Sunday, November 14, 2010

What Causes Acne? Part 4

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Acne vulgaris stems from a genetic predisposition to the disease. The third factor involved in the disease pathway of acne is an oxygen hating microbe, Proprionibacterium acnes (p. acnes).  P. acnes is a bacterium that thrives in anaerobic conditions, making a closed comedone the perfect environment for it to flourish.  Inside the follicle, P. acnes stimulates the production of proinflammatory mediators that pass through the follicle wall activating monocytes and neutrophils (white blood cells), which in turn, leads to the production of proinflammatory cytokines.  A sensitivity to this bacteria (P. acnes) may explain why some acne sufferers experience inflammation with their breakouts and others do not.  As a reminder, a genetic predisposition remains the underlying cause of acne vulgaris, while P. acnes is one of several factors in the disease pathway.