In your fight for clear skin, you rinse, scrub, and soak your face—all to get rid of acne-causing bacteria. So you’ll be surprised to learn that the key to flawless skin might actually be—yup—bacteria. According to a new study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, one particular strain of bacteria appears to be associated with clear skin. To reach that conclusion, researchers used pore strips to lift bacteria from participants’ noses, and then analyzed the bacteria and looked for associations between bacterial types and skin clarity—which led them to one particular bugger. “We looked at this strain closely, and found that it might have the ability to attack acne-causing bacteria,” says study co-author Huiying Li, PhD, assistant professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA. “It’s probiotics for your skin.” Now, investigators are considering various means of boosting our levels of this acne-fighting bacteria. Unfortunately, it turns out that your current skin treatments probably kill that good bacteria along with the bad. “They’re targeting all strains,” Li says. While experts still suggest cleansers with bacteria-killing salicylic acid, it’s a good idea to consider other ways to clear up your skin. A new review published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, for instance, found a connection between acne and diets high in dairy and high glycemic index foods, as we reported in What Doctors Don’t Tell You About Acne. Questions? Comments? Contact Prevention’s News Team.
