New Research, Studies and Developments in the Treatment of Acne

Each pore on the surface of the skin is an opening to a canal called a follicle. The follicle also contains a hair and an oil gland (sebaceous gland). The oil gland helps remove old skin cells, keeps the skin lubricated, and prevents drying of tissues.

New advancements and developments in treating acne such as the use of ultrasound waves, curcumin (curry), thyme, phage viruses, and even nanotechnology are being studied as potential effective treatments against the disease. These are but some of the new discoveries in acne research. Enumerated are the most current and advance technologies and studies in acne treatment.

The most common skin disease in the world is acne. It is a skin condition that causes pimples on the skin surface. The face is the most common location for acne to appear.

Acne occurs when excess oil gets trapped in the skin pores, it leads to a build up of bacteria and infection that results in zits.

Although not harmful, the presence of pimples or zits, as they are commonly called, can cause embarrassment and even psychological trauma. Teenagers are the most prone to acne, around 80% of teenagers have had acne.

At a time where youngsters learn to interact socially and adapt to a group environment, acne can be an obstacle. A serious case of it can affect one's self confidence, self image, and social interaction.

Doctors and dermatologists have been researching on advanced treatments for the disease such as thyme, coconut oil, and a combination of medication and skin creams. They have even researched into ultrasound waves and bio-nanotechnology in finding the most effective treatment.

The following are the latest advancements in acne research and treatment:

Coconut Oil As A Dental Care Product For Its Ability To Attack Bacteria Causing Tooth Decay

Coconut oil is the oil that comes from coconuts. It is extracted from the meat of matured coconuts. Coconut oil has been used for food, medicine, cosmetic and for industrial purposes as well. For some tropical countries, coconut oil is their primary dietary source of fat.

Coconut oil makes up around 2.5% of world vegetable oil production.

It is used in cosmetic products as a skin moisturizer and a soap ingredient. It is also used as a treatment for skin acne. Coconut oil can also be processed into fuel (biodiesel).

Coconut oil is believed to carry a lot of health advantages. It has been documented to possess anti-fungal and anti-microbial activity. due to the lauric acid content in the oil. Lauric acid has antiviral, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties when present in the human body.

Coconut oil could combat tooth decay

Digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. It is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into commercial dental care products, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick.

The team from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland tested the antibacterial action of coconut oil in its natural state and coconut oil that had been treated with enzymes, in a process similar to digestion. The oils were tested against strains of Streptococcus bacteria which are common inhabitants of the mouth. They found that enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibited the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria including Streptococcus mutans – an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay.

Many previous studies have shown that partially digested foodstuffs are active against micro-organisms. Earlier work on enzyme-modified milk showed that it was able to reduce the binding of S. mutans to tooth enamel, which prompted the group to investigate the effect of other enzyme-modified foods on bacteria.

Further work will examine how coconut oil interacts with Streptococcus bacteria at the molecular level and which other strains of harmful bacteria and yeasts it is active against. Additional testing by the group at the Athlone Institute of Technology found that enzyme-modified coconut oil was also harmful to the yeast Candida albicans that can cause thrush.