The topic today is on “propionibacterium acnes“, short form “P. acnes”. It is the common bacteria that causes the acne on our face, when thriving in huge amounts. It is a generally slow growing and harmless bacteria that is a common resident of the skin. However, its destructive nature is activated when your pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, an anaerobic environment where p. acnes thrive.
Propionibacterium acnes is the number 1 cause for pimples (acne vulgaris). There are 2 causes of pimples or acne in general. One is through poor hygiene such as not having a bath immediately after sports activities resulting in the sweat and dirt on your face clogging up all the pores. The other is through hormonal imbalance in your body especially during teenage and pregnancy times when the huge amounts of excess oil produced clogged up your pores. In the latter, propionibacterium acnes forms only a very small role.
Pimples can form on literally any parts of our body. However, you see them normally happening primarily on your face and secondarily on your chest only because of the sebum (oil) secretion at those areas. That is why, propionibacterium acnes is able to capitalise mainly only on those areas by creating an inflammation within the clogged pores so all the pus filled acne (papules / pimples / cysts) come out.
Something to take note is that acne caused by propionibacterium acnes is not common for adults over 25 years old. Only 25% of this target age group have acne unfortunately into their adulthood with women being more susceptible than men (in teenage years, guys are more susceptible than women isn’t it?).
By reducing the propionibacterium acnes population, you would be intercepting the bacteria from causing acne. Common ways to do it are through antibiotics, and Benzoyl Peroxide does it as well. I wouldn’t be discussing in great detail on the treatments for it here as I have already done so on my other post http://www.acne-solution-today.com/antibiotic-for-acne/ and also other sections of my blog. Till next time, goodbye!
