Almost everyone went through a phase where their skin broke out in acne, a skin condition whose redness, swelling and pustules can be unsightly and cause social anxieties for the sufferer. Some sufferers left this indignity behind with their teenage years. For the vast majority, acne decreases during the twenties, and disappears almost completely during the later twenties. But for a few unfortunates, the acne battle is lifelong. And before you can attempt to treat acne, you must understand the acne environment where acne bacteria thrives.

The skin has a normal complement of bacteria living on it at all times. These bacteria keep us from becoming infected with bacteria that might cause disease, so they are actually beneficial. It is not the bacteria that change during puberty, but the teenager's body. Hormones being produced cause an increase in the amount of oil on the skin, and acne arises in response to this change. Normally, sweat and the natural oils of the skin would wash away the bacteria in the pores, but in an acne sufferer they get trapped. Androgens, the hormones responsible for certain aspects of puberty and adult sexual function, cause the skin cells in hair follicles to shed more frequently, and more oil to be produced. The combination means that many skin cells stick together in the oil and clog the pores. The trapped bacteria multiply because the dead skin cells and oil are a great source of food for them. Because the immune system's job is to keep out invaders like these bacteria, their presence causes inflammation and an influx of white blood cells to destroy them.

Products from the breakdown of the dead skin cells and oil in the pores by the bacteria create free fatty acids that can cause even more inflammation. Pus, the white or yellow liquid in an acne sore, is a mix of dead immune cells, immune molecules, and the bacteria that they have killed. The sores look bad, and many people consider opening them to drain the pus, but that's actually a bad idea. The body will reabsorb the pus, but if bacteria more virulent than the acne bacteria get into the open sore, infection can occur. To reduce the number of acne bacteria on the skin of an acne sufferer, the use of benzoyl peroxide might be considered. This gentle anti-bacterial agent, available in creams, rinses, washes and gels, kills some of the acne bacteria that might otherwise case acne spots.

But acne bacteria are only one component of the situation that cases acne, and it is impossible to kill all of them. Most often, the only true 'cure' for acne is to wait for the adult hormones to stabilize and the skin to stop producing so much excess oil. Even this is not truly a cure, because acne bacteria are a natural resident of the skin, and if the conditions are right, will cause acne is anyone, not just teenagers. Hot and moist climates can cause some people to break out. Treating your skin carefully by maintaining a good cleanliness ritual will be your biggest weapon against breakouts. Removing the oil, dead skin, and excess bacteria by washing with a gentle soap on a regular basis will help to control the number of breakouts you suffer, whether your acne is mild or more severe. And understanding the acne environment where acne bacteria thrives will assist you in choosing how to treat your problem days.

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