Bacterial acne occurs when normal skin bacteria overgrow, causing inflammation that leads to pimples, cysts, and potentially scarring or pigmentation.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Normal Skin Flora: Our skin naturally hosts a variety of bacteria.
- Overgrowth: When these bacteria, particularly Cutibacterium acnes (formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes), proliferate excessively within hair follicles, problems arise.
- Inflammation: The overgrowth triggers inflammation.
- Lesions: This inflammation manifests as:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Pus-filled lesions (pimples and cysts)
- Potential Complications: Bacterial acne has the potential to cause:
- Scarring
- Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin)
Essentially, it's an inflammatory condition caused by an imbalance in the skin's natural bacteria, leading to breakouts.
