The harmless virus that lives on our skin can be used to treat acne, scientists say.
A virus called phage was created by nature itself to kill the bacteria that cause acne - Propionibacterium acnes.
Experts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Pittsburgh have discovered 11 different versions of the virus in this phage family that have this ability.
Currently, laboratory work is planned to study the possibilities of its use as a means of therapy.
"Using a virus that preys on acne-causing bacteria can help create a new and promising remedy for the physical and emotional scars that occur in severe forms of acne," said study leader Professor Robert Modlin.
Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with an oily substance called sebum, which is produced by the body to prevent hair and skin from drying out.
Usually harmless, Propionibacterium acnes bacteria living on the skin can infect clogged follicles.
Phages appear to counteract this. They carry a gene that produces the protein leukin, which, according to scientists, destroys bacteria, destroying the walls of their cells.
Unlike antibiotics, which kill many types of bacteria, including the “good” ones that live in our intestines, phages are programmed only for individual bacteria.
Acne is a common disease that affects 8 out of 10 young people aged 11-30 years.
"We understand how upsetting acne symptoms are for those who suffer from it, and we welcome any developments that could lead to a cure or at least a deeper understanding of this disease," experts say.
