Why Cutibacterium Acnes Is Not Always the Enemy
Cutibacterium acnes, the bacterium most people associate with breakouts and inflamed skin, is actually a normal and often beneficial resident of human…
What the Skin Microbiome Has to Do with Acne
Your skin is home to trillions of microorganisms — bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites — that collectively form the skin microbiome, and when that…
Which Probiotic Strains Help with Acne Specifically
The probiotic strains with the strongest clinical evidence for acne belong to two genera: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
What Probiotics Do for Acne-Prone Skin
Probiotics help acne-prone skin by reducing systemic inflammation, strengthening the skin barrier, and rebalancing the gut-skin axis that often drives…
Why Fermented Foods Help Some People Clear Acne
Fermented foods help some people clear acne because they introduce beneficial bacteria into the gut, which directly influences systemic inflammation and…
Why Your Gut Health Directly Affects Your Acne
Your gut health directly affects your acne because the intestinal lining, when compromised, allows inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream and…
What Is the Gut-Skin Axis and Why It Matters for Acne
The gut-skin axis is a bidirectional communication pathway between your intestinal microbiome and your skin, and mounting research suggests it plays a…
What DHEA Has to Do with Adult Female Acne
DHEA — dehydroepiandrosterone — is an adrenal hormone that your body converts into androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, and elevated…
Why Testosterone Spikes Cause Cystic Acne in Women
Testosterone spikes cause cystic acne in women through a straightforward but punishing chain reaction: excess testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands…
What Is Androgen Sensitivity in Acne
Androgen sensitivity in acne refers to a condition where your skin’s sebaceous glands overreact to normal levels of circulating androgens, producing…