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India Today
06-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
The real story behind teenage pimples and how it can change future acne treatment
Ever wondered why acne strikes in your teenage years and lingers for some, while others breeze through with clear skin?The answer may lie not just in hormones, but in the invisible world of bacteria living on your face.A new study by researchers at MIT, published in Cell Host & Microbe, has uncovered fascinating insights into how bacteria on our facial skin evolve, especially during the teenage years. And their findings could reshape how we think about, and treat, THE SKIN MICROBIOME MYSTERYOur skin, especially on the face, is home to a bustling community of them, two bacteria dominate: Cutibacterium acnes (previously known as Propionibacterium acnes) and Staphylococcus epidermidis. For years, scientists knew these bacteria played a role in skin conditions like acne and eczema, but exactly how and when they settle in remained new research reveals that during the early teenage years, a time when oil production in the skin skyrockets, new strains of C. acnes begin to arrive and multiply rapidly. These strains then tend to stay put for years, forming a stable, personalised bacterial signature on each person's face. Our skin, especially on the face, is home to a bustling community of microbes. () advertisementThat stability, it turns out, is a double-edged sword."If we had a strain that we knew could prevent acne, these results would suggest we should apply it early, during the transition to adulthood, so that it has a better chance to settle in,' explained Dr. Tami Lieberman, senior author of the study and associate professor at TIMING MATTERSThe study tracked the skin microbiomes of 30 children and 27 parents. By collecting samples over time and sequencing individual bacterial cells, the researchers discovered that teenagers acquire many new C. acnes once a person reaches adulthood, the microbiome becomes mostly fixed, making it harder for new strains, even helpful probiotic ones, to take suggests a crucial takeaway: the early teenage years may be the ideal window to introduce acne-preventing probiotic treatments, when the face is still open to "welcoming" new strains."It's like planting seeds. The soil is more fertile during adolescence," said Lieberman. Once a person reaches adulthood, the microbiome becomes mostly fixed, making it harder for new strains, even helpful probiotic ones, to take hold. () The study also found that Staphylococcus epidermidis, the other major skin resident, behaves quite differently. Its strains tend to come and go, living for less than two years on average. Interestingly, even people living in the same house don't share many of the same this happens isn't fully understood. It may be due to individual skin care routines, genetics, or the bacteria themselves blocking new ones from moving IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF ACNE TREATMENTCurrent acne treatments often rely on antibiotics or retinoids, which can irritate the skin and have limited long-term benefits. But what if we could treat acne by tweaking the skin microbiome during its most vulnerable and flexible phase, adolescence?While this study doesn't offer a cure for acne yet, it points to a new direction: understanding when and how to introduce "good" bacteria to support skin health. The idea isn't far-fetched. Several companies are already exploring topical probiotics for acne. This study offers a clue: apply them early, before the skin's bacterial population teenagers struggling with acne, it's a reminder that their skin is undergoing a major transformation, one that could be better supported with well-timed, personalised treatments in the near research also sheds light on why some people get acne and others don't, even if they live together and use the same products. The answer may lie in what strain of C. acnes they carry and how their immune system responds to next step for the MIT team is to understand whether the timing of these bacterial takeovers affects long-term skin health—and how to use that information to design better treatments."We're each walking around with a unique skin microbiome, shaped by early events in our lives. If we can understand that better, we may be able to guide it toward healthier outcomes," said Reel
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists make major breakthrough that may curb the threat of Ebola: 'Information we should have'
Bats can be awfully cute (and are vital to a healthy environment), but they can also play host to some pretty nasty viruses. One example is a family of potentially deadly viruses known as filoviruses, which includes Ebola. The largest outbreak of Ebola happened between 2014 and 2016, with more than 11,000 people killed. However, scientists have recently made a major breakthrough when it comes to bats and filoviruses that may help curb the threat of Ebola. A study published January 12 in the scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe shared information about a new tool scientists have developed to help identify the particular bat species that carry filoviruses such as Ebola. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Determining the species that are more likely to host such viruses can also help identify potential areas in danger and prevent significant outbreaks. Identification and prevention become more important as the level of gases in the atmosphere causing pollution rises, as these heat-trapping gases can increase the risk of Ebola outbreaks. According to Science Daily, co-leading author of the study Simon Anthony explained, "The fundamental question is, where is the next ebolavirus outbreak going to come from? If we don't know what the wildlife host is, we can't know how, where or when that will be." Researchers built this latest project off the back of a 2011 study by Kartik Chandran, another co-leading author of the current study. In the 2011 study, Chandran discovered that Ebola must have a particular protein receptor to bind to in order to take hold. The 2025 study looked at which bat species have this protein receptor, how strongly their receptors bind to Ebola, and whether the species live in areas that have experienced outbreaks in the past. Finding the answers to those three questions helps determine which bat species have the most potential to act as hosts for the Ebola virus. Accomplishing this could not only aid wildlife surveillance in identifying major hosts of Ebola but also enable scientists to decipher how likely a certain virus is to infect people. Anthony said in the Science Daily report, "Having information about which species are and are not more likely to be the host reservoir is information we should have." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
