Host-Microbiome Interactions and Recent Progress in Understanding the Biology of Acne Vulgaris
October 2018
in “
Microbiome
”
TLDR Acne is linked to complex skin microbe interactions, and new findings suggest microbiome-based treatments could be effective.
The document from 2018 discusses the complex nature of acne vulgaris, emphasizing the role of host-microbiome interactions in the disease's pathophysiology. It highlights that while Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes are common skin microbes associated with both health and acne, the latter does not fulfill all of Koch's postulates for being the sole cause of acne. The traditional model of acne, which implicates C. acnes overgrowth in plugged follicles due to increased sebum production, is challenged by evidence showing C. acnes is present in similar amounts in both clear and acne-affected skin. Advances in metagenomic sequencing have revealed that the acne microbiome is compositionally distinct from that of healthy skin, with specific virulence factors that may contribute to acne. The article reviews recent findings on how skin microbes interact with the immune system and discusses the potential of microbiome-based treatments for acne.
