Acne vaccines could offer robust defence

"Acne has long been dismissed as an unfortunate cosmetic issue - a rite of passage that is ultimately of little importance. But that attitude is changing. Many scientists now accept that acne is an attention-worthy condition. Roughly 80% of adolescents worldwide experience acne, which can persist into later adulthood. Because the onset of acne can coincide with the stage of development when self-image is forming, outbreaks "can lead to social withdrawal, low self-esteem and even depression","

"Topical treatments for acne offer only partial and temporary reductions in symptoms. Even the antibiotic isotretinoin, which carries significant side effects, is just a short-term solution - acne often rebounds a few months after treatment ends. There is, therefore, considerable need for treatments that can truly banish acne, rather than mask it. Leading that charge are two vaccine candidates that aim to engage the immune system in tackling the underlying cause of acne."

"Acne is influenced by hormones and genetics, but it is driven by inflammation and lesions caused by bacteria that grow in clogged pores. The vaccines - one that would treat the condition and one that would act as a preventive measure - both attempt to provoke the immune system into targeting these acne-causing bacteria. "It has taken time for the field to treat acne as a disease of immune regulation, rather than just a surface issue," says Mahto."

Acne affects roughly 80% of adolescents worldwide and can persist into adulthood, contributing to social withdrawal, low self-esteem and depression. Topical treatments and oral isotretinoin provide only partial, temporary relief and carry side effects with common rebound of acne after treatment. Two vaccine candidates—one therapeutic and one preventive—aim to engage the immune system to target bacteria that cause inflammation and lesions in clogged pores. The vaccines seek to shift acne management toward immune regulation rather than surface-level treatment, addressing underlying bacterial drivers and reducing reliance on antibiotics and short-term drugs.

Read at Nature