Acne can be a very annoying and embarrassing problem. It is often associated with the teen years, but it can extend far beyond them and in some people, may not even appear until adulthood. No matter when it strikes though, it can have a devastating effect on a person’s self-esteem. Sometimes acne creams and face washes help to clear it up. Other times more aggressive medications are necessary. Unfortunately, the topical creams can be very drying and irritating to the skin and the prescription medications carry with them a host of possible side effects too.
A new study by a research team in Glasgow is looking promising for a completely new type of acne treatment. The team is studying the effects of prebiotics on acne bacteria. While many of us are familiar with the currently popular probiotics, or friendly bacteria (they are in everything from yogurt to cereal these days), prebiotics are not as well known. Prebiotics are a component of some foods and work to encourage the growth of probiotics.
The idea behind the research is that if the good bacteria levels are increased by ‘feeding’ them with prebiotics, then the healthy bacteria will overtake the acne bacteria. Unlike many of the traditional acne treatments which use antibacterial agents that kill all types of bacteria, this treatment would zero in on the harmful stuff, allowing good bacteria to flourish and hopefully keep the skin healthy.
Source: CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com, Morguefile.com
