01-03-2013, 12:06 AM
Acne is the most common skin disease seen as small bumps on the skin. Acnes are always seen as tiny disasters on the skin and the people prone to acnes develop a complex inferior to those with a clear skin. Especially young people under teen groups just dislike seeing that tiny ball on their face. One with the acne trying to find out ways in getting rid of it seeks many advices from peers and also consults dermatologist. The general suggested ways of combating with acne includes change in diet, avoiding oily food stuffs, consuming plenty of water and fluids, washing the face frequently, use of soaps and face wash solutions prescribed by the doctor, selecting the correct cosmetics suitable for the skin, taking antibiotics prescribed by a dermatologist, washing the hands before touching the face, avoiding hair and the facial skin contact, using clean tissues and towels to wipe the face, avoid squeezing the pimple and the list goes on. Also, now-a-days there are many skin clinics emerging with latest skin care technologies promising a clear skin devoid of pimples and removal of scars developed as a result of pimples.
The different important factors contributing to the development of acne are the nature of the skin, sex hormones and the bacteria. In general, nature of the skin is classified as normal, oily and dry skin and people with oily skin are more prone to acnes. Both men women develop acnes as a result of change in their sex hormonal levels.
The next major causative agent responsible for acne is the bacteria. Yes, human skin acts as a habitat for many bacteria and virus. Though most of them are harmless some of them cause skin infections. Among these bacteria is the Propionibacterium (Gram positive, rod shaped), the microbe behind those acnes on the skin. The occurrence of pimples is also considered as the immune response developed by the individual against the action of this bacterium. The Propionibacterium depend upon the sebum secreted by the oil glands beneath the skin and the cellular debris present in the follicles and the pores of the skin for their nutrition and growth. This bacterium is also known to secrete enzymes that are of digestive nature which causes disruption of cells present in the follicles of the skin. The blocked pores of the skin, the accumulation of the dead cells and the excess secretion of the sebum by the oil glands acts as the perfect environment for the bacteria to grow and multiply and influences the formation of those small bumpy structures on the skin.
The medication prescribed in treating acnes is limited whatever may be the cause for the development of them. It includes prescription of topical creams and gels with antimicrobial property to be applied on the affected area of the skin and antibiotics to be taken orally. There is also some disadvantage in using topical gel. The applied gels tend to get absorbed by the skin and enter the blood stream causing problems like diarrhea, colitis receiving clinical attention.
With the availability of though effective but limited treatment methods to the largely affected population, the work by the research team from the university of California and University of Pittsburgh states the discovery of a virus obtained from the human skin is effective against the acne causing Propionibacterium and reduces the acne effect by killing this bacteria. Human skin acts as the habitat to both the Propionibacterium and the discovered virus, the bacteriophage. The virus is found to cause no harm to the humans but is designed to kill the bacteria and hence it is considered as an ideal bacteriophage for the acne causing bacterium.
The genomic sequence of the virus, its size, its potential to kill the bacteria seems to be the attracting factors for the scientists to use them as an effective vehicle to kill the Propionibacterium thus reducing the development of acnes. Also the scientists state the designed virus’s specificity to the acne causing bacteria makes it a valid tool against the Propionibacterium. As a further progress to this finding the scientists are trying to extract and study the active protein of the virus responsible for the destruction of the bacteria which will pave way for the development of active product instead of using the virus as such in treating acnes.
The ongoing researches in the development of safe, effective and promising treatment methods for acne will always be an ideal gift to the acne sufferers.
The different important factors contributing to the development of acne are the nature of the skin, sex hormones and the bacteria. In general, nature of the skin is classified as normal, oily and dry skin and people with oily skin are more prone to acnes. Both men women develop acnes as a result of change in their sex hormonal levels.
The next major causative agent responsible for acne is the bacteria. Yes, human skin acts as a habitat for many bacteria and virus. Though most of them are harmless some of them cause skin infections. Among these bacteria is the Propionibacterium (Gram positive, rod shaped), the microbe behind those acnes on the skin. The occurrence of pimples is also considered as the immune response developed by the individual against the action of this bacterium. The Propionibacterium depend upon the sebum secreted by the oil glands beneath the skin and the cellular debris present in the follicles and the pores of the skin for their nutrition and growth. This bacterium is also known to secrete enzymes that are of digestive nature which causes disruption of cells present in the follicles of the skin. The blocked pores of the skin, the accumulation of the dead cells and the excess secretion of the sebum by the oil glands acts as the perfect environment for the bacteria to grow and multiply and influences the formation of those small bumpy structures on the skin.
The medication prescribed in treating acnes is limited whatever may be the cause for the development of them. It includes prescription of topical creams and gels with antimicrobial property to be applied on the affected area of the skin and antibiotics to be taken orally. There is also some disadvantage in using topical gel. The applied gels tend to get absorbed by the skin and enter the blood stream causing problems like diarrhea, colitis receiving clinical attention.
With the availability of though effective but limited treatment methods to the largely affected population, the work by the research team from the university of California and University of Pittsburgh states the discovery of a virus obtained from the human skin is effective against the acne causing Propionibacterium and reduces the acne effect by killing this bacteria. Human skin acts as the habitat to both the Propionibacterium and the discovered virus, the bacteriophage. The virus is found to cause no harm to the humans but is designed to kill the bacteria and hence it is considered as an ideal bacteriophage for the acne causing bacterium.
The genomic sequence of the virus, its size, its potential to kill the bacteria seems to be the attracting factors for the scientists to use them as an effective vehicle to kill the Propionibacterium thus reducing the development of acnes. Also the scientists state the designed virus’s specificity to the acne causing bacteria makes it a valid tool against the Propionibacterium. As a further progress to this finding the scientists are trying to extract and study the active protein of the virus responsible for the destruction of the bacteria which will pave way for the development of active product instead of using the virus as such in treating acnes.
The ongoing researches in the development of safe, effective and promising treatment methods for acne will always be an ideal gift to the acne sufferers.
![[+]](https://www.biotechnologyforums.com/images/netpen-pro/collapse_collapsed.png)