Propionibacterium Levels In Patients With And Without Acne Vulgaris

Abstract

Propionibacterium species were quantified on the foreheads and cheeks of persons with and without acne in three age groups: 11 to 15, 16 to 20, and 21 to 25. Propionibacteria were virtually absent in the pubertal non-acne group compared to a geometric mean density of 114,800 per sq cm in the acne group. A similar sharp difference existed between the acne subjects and normals in the age range of 16 to 20 years: 85,800 organisms per sq cm compared to 588 per sq cm. Patients with acne and normal subjects over age 21 showed no difference in Propionibacterium levels. In acne patients, while there was a trend for lower levels, no significant difference was seen as the severity of inflammation increased.

Blue and red light combination LED phototherapy for acne vulgaris in patients with skin phototype IV

“…Particularly, P. acnes is considered to play a key role in more than one way. It acts on triglycerides and releases its cytokines, which trigger inflammatory reactions and also alter the infundibular keratinization status [19,32].…”

Acne is Not Associated with Yet-Uncultured Bacteria

“…A significant increase in P. acnes colonization density is observed at puberty, concurrent with the onset of the disease (25). A preference for anaerobic conditions and the production of lipid-degrading lipases are believed to make P. acnes well suited to colonize the sebaceous follicles and to sustain this harsh environment (26).…”

“…Some researchers have suggested that the involvement of P. acnes in the inflammation is relatively minor and that the predominance of P. acnes in the sebaceous ducts may be a side effect of the inflammation rather than the cause. P. acnes colonizes the skin and follicles of both acne-affected and healthy individuals, and no correlation has been observed between the absolute number of bacteria and the severity of disease (8,9,23,25). It has even been reported that not all comedones or early inflamed lesions harbor microorganisms (23,24).…”

Effect of clindamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and tetracycline on growth and extracellular lipase production by propionibacteria in vitro

“…Hydrolysis of sebum triglycerides by bacterial lipases, in particular those of propionibacteria (13,20), and the subsequent release of irritating free fatty acids in the pilosebaceous follicles has been proposed as a major factor in the formation of lesions in acne vulgaris (22). Improvement in acne is often achieved by long-term administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics which are thought to decrease the density of propionibacteria (1,12,14) and hence reduce the free fatty acids in the sebum (7, 18). At present, there are few reports describing the effects of antibiotics on propionibacteria in vitro, those that do exist being mainly concerned with the evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility (9,19).…”