Have you ever wondered why acne in your teenage and sex for some, while other winds with clear skin?

The answer can be not only in hormones, but can also be in the invisible world of bacteria living on your face.

A new study by researchers in MIT published in cell host and microbe has exposed the attractive insight of how bacteria develop on our facial skin, especially during adolescence. And how do we think their findings, and treat acne.

Skin microbiom mystery

Our skin, especially on the face, is home to a stir community of germs.

Among them, two bacteria dominate: Cutibacterium Acnes (previously known as propionabacterium acnes) and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Over the years, scientists knew that these bacteria played a role in skin conditions like acne and eczema, but in fact how and when they settle is not clear.

This new research suggests that during early adolescence, a time when the skin produces oil in the sky, c. New strains of ancests start coming and multiply rapidly. These strains then remain for years, forming a stable, individual bacteria on each person’s face.

This stability, it turns out, is a two -edged sword.

“If we have a stress that we knew that we could stop acne, these results would suggest that we should apply it early during infection for adulthood, so that it has a better chance to settle,” the senior writer of the study, Dr. Tami Libeman explained and Associate Professor at MIT.

Why time matters

The study tracked the skin of 30 children and 27 parents. By collecting samples over time and sequence of individual bacteria cells, researchers found that teenagers several new c. Anes acquisition of strains.

But once a person reaches adulthood, microbiom is mostly fixed, making it difficult for new strains, even useful probiotic, to catch.

This suggests an important takeway: early teenage years can be an ideal window to introduce acne-pre-probiotic remedies, when the face is still open to “welcome” new strains.

“It is like planting seeds. The soil is more fertile during adolescence,” Liberman said.

The study also found that other major skin resident Staphylococcus epidermidis behaves quite differently. Its strains come and go, on average, last for less than two years. Interestingly, even people living in the same house do not share many of the same strains.

Why this happens is not fully understood. This can be caused by personal skin care routine, genetics, or bacteria that prevent new people from entering.

What does it mean for the future of acne treatment

Current acne treatments often depend on antibiotics or retinoids, which can irritate the skin and have long limited benefits. But what if we can treat acne by mixing skin microbiome during our weakest and flexible phase, adolescence?

Although this study does not yet offer a treatment for acne, it points to a new direction: Understanding when and how “good” bacteria have to be introduced to support skin health. This idea is not far -fetched. Many companies are already discovering topical probiotics for acne. This study provides a clue: Apply them quickly before the population of skin bacteria freeze.

For adolescents struggling with acne, it is a reminder that their skin is undergoing a major change, a one that can be better supported with personal remedies, in a near future.

Research also highlights why some people find acne and others do not, even if they live together and use the same product. Answer for this c. In which stress of anise can occur and their immune system reacts to it.

The next step for the MIT team is to understand whether the time of these bacterial takeover affects long-term skin health-and how to use that information to design better treatment.

“We are rotating each with a unique skin microbiom, which is the shape of early phenomena in our life. If we can understand it better, we may be able to guide it to healthy results,” Liberman said.