Antibacterial Toner Exhibits Bactericidal Effect Against Cutibacterium Acnes via Keratin and Sebum Plug Penetration

This study demonstrates that an antibacterial toner can effectively penetrate keratin and sebum plugs to exhibit bactericidal effects against Cutibacterium acnes, a key contributor to acne vulgaris. Using scanning electron microscopy, next-generation sequencing, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, researchers found that C. acnes proliferates within these plugs in a biofilm-like morphology. The toner significantly reduced the number of viable C. acnes cells in both type strains and isolates from acne-prone skin by over 2.2 log and 1.2 log, respectively, indicating its potential as an effective treatment for acne by targeting bacteria within keratin and sebum plugs.