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What are our pimples really saying?
17 février 2026
By Ana Espino | Published on February 17, 2026 | 3 min readAcne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, highly prevalent in adolescents but also common in adults. It is characterized by comedonal and inflammatory lesions, typically affecting the face, chest, and back, with significant impact on quality of life, self-esteem, and mental health. Current management relies
By Ana Espino | Published on February 17, 2026 | 3 min read
Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, highly prevalent in adolescents but also common in adults. It is characterized by comedonal and inflammatory lesions, typically affecting the face, chest, and back, with significant impact on quality of life, self-esteem, and mental health.
Current management relies on combinations of topical and systemic treatments—antibiotics, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide—aimed at reducing inflammation, bacterial proliferation, and hyperkeratinization. However, these strategies have major limitations: cutaneous or systemic adverse effects, development of antimicrobial resistance, limited long-term efficacy, and lack of personalization. They primarily target symptoms rather than addressing deeper imbalances within the skin ecosystem.
A central challenge is understanding the role of the skin microbiome in the onset and persistence of lesions. Recent studies suggest that certain strains of Cutibacterium acnes, previously regarded as uniform pathogens, may coexist with beneficial or pro-inflammatory bacteria within a fragile microbial balance.
Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, highly prevalent in adolescents but also common in adults. It is characterized by comedonal and inflammatory lesions, typically affecting the face, chest, and back, with significant impact on quality of life, self-esteem, and mental health.
Current management relies on combinations of topical and systemic treatments—antibiotics, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide—aimed at reducing inflammation, bacterial proliferation, and hyperkeratinization. However, these strategies have major limitations: cutaneous or systemic adverse effects, development of antimicrobial resistance, limited long-term efficacy, and lack of personalization. They primarily target symptoms rather than addressing deeper imbalances within the skin ecosystem.
A central challenge is understanding the role of the skin microbiome in the onset and persistence of lesions. Recent studies suggest that certain strains of Cutibacterium acnes, previously regarded as uniform pathogens, may coexist with beneficial or pro-inflammatory bacteria within a fragile microbial balance.
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Scientific reference
Acne and the cutaneous microbiome: A systematic review of mechanisms and implications for treatments
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