All life forms strategize to survive and procreate. Weeds, worms, birds, fungi
and bacteria all work to sustain
their own lives on this planet.
In fact, we humans survive
because of the biological
games constantly unfolding
in our mist.
Propionibacterium acnes, or
p acne bacteria, are no different.
They want and need to survive.
Skin bacteria perform an important
function. Bacteria use the
secretions of our sweat and
sebaceous glands (sebum is
the oil that makes our skin
look shiny) as nutrients.
P acnes that are in balance
with your body prevent colonization
by more harmful bacteria.
P acne bacteria only encourage
acne formations if the production
of oil on the face is excessive.
This surplus of oil of prompted
by hormonal, nutritional,
environmental and/or psychological
changes in the body. So to
prevent acne, you do not what
to kill bacteria per se, but
keep the amount of bacteria
on your skin at an optimal
balance. You optimize your
oil secretion by understanding
and controlling your response
to hormonal, nutritional,
environmental and/or psychological
changes.
If we upset the balance of
bacteria in our bodies by
taking antibiotics, our resident
flora is upset and this enables
harmful bacteria (such as
Staphylococcus aureus and
Acinetobacter baumannii) to
colonize our skin. What's
more, antibiotics can destroy
the balance of intestinal
flora and cause constipation.
In short, using antibiotics
on bacteria is a battle amongst
intelligent parties involving
the bacteria, the body, and
the human mind. If we fail
to appreciate the bacteria
as bodily maintenance workers
and continue dousing them
with antibiotics, the bacteria
just become more resistant
to our antibiotics. The bacteria
are practiced at playing dead
as a tactic for survival.
Even people who have used
the strongest acne drug on
the market, Accutane, have
witnessed the cunning behavior
of bacteria as zits reappear
some months after using this
course of acne treatment.
These people have discovered
that bacteria do not die;
they silently and strategically
multiply. If you do not want
your bacteria out of balance,
do not provide them an environment
conducive to acne.
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