Cutibacterium acnes (Propionibacterium acnes): Review Article

Abstract

P. acnes or short for Propionibacterium Acnes, is a bacterium that is natural on human skin more or less on everyone. It is a ubiquitous and fascinating wrinkle in our largest organ that merely scratching the skin’s surface gives an impression of. While it’s commonly associated with pimples, the truth is quite diverse, as it plays far more roles than only causing acne. P. acnes is an anaerobic bacterium, which should suggest that it practices in oxygen-scarce environments such as the hair follicles and sebaceous glands, where it indeed feeds on sebum, or skin oil, however, P. acnes does not solely cause this inflammation; the glands have additional friends that contribute to the formation of pimples, papules, and pustules characteristic of acne. Other contributing factors are hormonal, genetic, and immune systems, as they also account for acne manifestations. Second, it is worth pointing out that not all P. acnes strains are alike. Of these, some may be more irritable than others, with a greater impact on acne severity. This has given researchers a cue to look for precise treatments that will focus on the worst-causing strains, thereby giving hope to improved acne treatment. However, different from what it was hitherto associated with, P. acnes is currently being researched for what it can do. Some of the proposed benefits are that it might act as an immunomodulator; it helps us control the immune system, which prevents infections; and it may be involved in the healing process, especially in burns, thus, it was found that P. acnes and our skin are intertwined in a mutually wakeful and poorly understood connection. It may be bad for acne-prone skin, but it may be good for something in our bodies. It is imperative to fully understand this intricate relationship in order to derive new tactics for halting the occurrence of acne and promoting proper skin health.