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:

Thyme Effective Herbal Treatment For Treating Skin Acne

One of the emerging natural treatment for acne is the use of thyme. Recent discoveries in the medical benefits of thyme have shown that it is an effective treatment for acne. Acne is the most common skin disease in the world. Scientists and researchers are constantly researching for the most effective treatment and therapy for the disease (see Related Links below for current advances and developments in treating acne).

Thyme is a delicate looking herb with a penetrating fragrance. Its leaves are curled, elliptically shaped and very small. The upper leaf is green-grey in color on top, while the underside is a whitish color. It is popularly used in cooking for its strong flavor especially for meats, soups and stews.

Aside from thyme's culinary uses, the herb also has medicinal benefits as well. Oil of thyme, the essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), contains thymol. Thymol is an antiseptic that has been found to protect and significantly increase the percentage of healthy fats found in cell membranes and other cell structures. Thymol has also been shown to be effective against various fungi that commonly infect toenails. Thymol can also be found as the active ingredient in some all-natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizers.

Aside from thymol, Thyme essential oil also contains a range of additional compounds, such as p-Cymene, myrcene, borneol and linalool. Before the advent of modern antibiotics, oil of thyme was used to medicate bandages.

Studies have also shown that a dietary supplement of thyme can increase the amount of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) in the brain, kidney, and heart cell membranes.

It must be noted that women should avoid thyme during pregnancy as it stimulate muscles, including the uterus, which possibly can cause a miscarriage.

Treatment of Skin Acne

Herbal preparations of thyme could be more effective at treating skin acne than prescription creams, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin. Further clinical testing could lead to an effective, gentler treatment for the skin condition.

Researchers from Leeds Metropolitan University tested the effect of thyme, marigold and myrrh tinctures on Propionibacterium acnes – the bacterium that causes acne by infecting skin pores and forming spots, which range from white heads through to puss-filled cysts. The group found that while all the preparations were able to kill the bacterium after five minutes exposure, thyme was the most effective of the three. What's more, they discovered that thyme tincture had a greater antibacterial effect than standard concentrations of benzoyl peroxide – the active ingredient in most anti-acne creams or washes.