New Studies Probe Causes, Cures for Acne

For many, adolescence is a difficult period of emotional turbulence, identity crisis, and rapid physical development. The hormonal shifts that mark the onset of young adulthood bring about not only a more mature physique, but also an array of other welcome -- and not-so-welcome -- changes.

One of the most dreaded physical changes associated with adolescence is the skin condition known as acne. Although virtually every teenager experiences blemish outbreaks from time to time, a diagnosis of acne signals a more serious disorder. The blemishes associated with acne often resemble a rash or hives spread over the cheeks and forehead. In severe cases, other areas of the body, such as the back, may be affected by acne, as well.

The distress caused by persistent cases of adolescent acne is significant. Serious, extended cases of acne can leave lasting physical damage and scar tissue on the affected tissue, and the emotional scars of feeling unattractive during a critical period of maturity and development can also last a lifetime. Researchers around the world are hard at work exploring the causes of acne and developing possible cures. This week, we'll take a look at some of the recent developments in acne research.

Scientists Explore Connection Between Stress and Acne

Although many acne sufferers have long believed that there is a connection between stressful life circumstances and increased acne outbreak, these suspicions were not proven with scientific researchers. However, a recent study conducted by scientists at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine seems to indicate that there is, indeed, a statistical link between stress and acne severity.

The study, the largest of its kind ever undertaken, was designed to determine whether adolescents undergoing stressful life circumstances would also show worsened acne symptoms. The participants in the study were a group of nearly 100 Singaporean teenagers with previous medical diagnoses of acne. The North Carolina researchers elected to conduct the study in Singapore because of that country's consistent year-round temperatures and humidity levels.

According to the study's findings, the adolescents experienced worsened acne symptoms in the weeks leading up to mid-term exams. Conversely, the lowest reported period of acne outbreaks was in the period months after the exams, when academic stress was presumed to be at a low point.

The researchers hypothesized that the connection between stressful life circumstances and acne severity may be related to inflammation. Acne is categorized by researchers as an inflammatory disease, and high stress levels have long been linked to increased inflammation. Although specific treatment guidelines related to stress control for acne sufferers have not yet been issued, the researchers noted that trying to reduce periods of intense stress may lessen symptoms for some adolescents with the disorder.

Researchers Develop New Hybrid Technique for Treating Acne

Scientists working at the Loma Linda University Medical School have begun work on a new advanced treatment that may hold significant promise for acne sufferers. The treatment combines two relatively new techniques into a single method that is geared to attack multiple acne symptoms.

The new hybrid technique is referred to as photopneumatic therapy. It combines sessions of exposure to pulses of a special light source, alternated with sessions of skin suction. The light treatment therapy is used to kill the types of bacteria known to cause and exacerbate acne symptoms. The suction therapy, which is performed with a specialized vacuum device, is used to clean the skin, clear the pores, and bring facial oils closer to the surface.

The new therapy technique that combines both light and suction was recently approved for use by the FDA. However, it has not yet attained widespread popularity, and at the current juncture, only a few dermatologists in the United States have adopted it as a primary form of acne treatment. Still, scientists researching the method believe that it holds great promise for acne sufferers.

Germs Found to Spread Drug-Resistant Strain of Acne

Although it has long been known that certain types of bacteria contribute to and worsen acne, researchers had not considered the possibility that acne could be considered contagious in the traditional sense of the term.

However, the findings of a recent study conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden seem to indicate that a germ-based model of acne's spread may exist. The researchers found that a particularly virulent form of drug-resistant acne appeared to be spread among family members in a number of cases. Even family members who did not develop visible acne could carry and spread the acne germs.

The researchers suggested that contagion should be further explored in future acne research, and that treatment methods should take the possibility of acne spread within family groups or shared households into consideration.

Check with your doctor to develop the best treatment plan for your acne, and check back each week for more health science news that matters.