Acne

1. What is Acne & How Does It Develop?
2. Acne Causes & Myths
3. Acne Treatments
4. Acne-Prone Skin Care & Management
5. Acne Research & Additional Acne Resources
6. View All

Hope in Research For Acne

What Research Is Being Done on Acne?

Medical researchers are working on new drugs to treat acne, particularly topical antibiotics to replace some of those in current use. As with many other types of bacterial infections, doctors are finding that, over time, the bacteria that are associated with acne are becoming resistant to treatment with certain antibiotics, though it is not clear how significant a problem this resistance represents.

Scientists are also trying to better understand the mechanisms involved in acne so that they can develop new treatments that work on those mechanisms. For example, researchers are studying the mechanisms that regulate sebum production in order to identify ways to effectively reduce its production without the side effects of current medicines. Another group is trying to understand how P. acnes activates the immune system in order to identify possible immunologic interventions. Other areas of research involve examining the effects of isotretinoin on an area of the brain that might lead to depression and developing a laser system to treat acne and acne-related scars without damaging the outer layers of the skin.

Researchers in Germany, funded by German institutions, have taken P. acnes and identified its genetic information (genome). This information may help researchers develop new treatments to target the bacteria.

Additional Acne Resources

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)

Website: http://www.aad.org

This national organization can provide referrals to dermatologists. It also publishes a brochure on acne for adults and a fact sheet for young people. These are available on the organization’s Web site or can be obtained by calling or writing to the academy.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Information Clearinghouse
National Institutes of Health

Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov

NIAMS provides information about various forms of arthritis and rheumatic disease and bone, muscle, joint, and skin diseases. It distributes patient and professional education materials and refers people to other sources of information. Additional information and updates can also be found on the NIAMS Web site.

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