Acne vaccine could soon be a reality in a few years

With 80 per cent of people aged 11 to 30 affected, it’s about time too

According to the NHS, about 80 per cent of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by the skin condition (Getty/iStockphoto)

It’s one of the most common skin conditions, yet up until now scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of acne.

But, for those who suffer from the condition it looks like complexion problems could soon be a thing of the past: an acne vaccine is finally in the works.

And it’s about time too. According to the NHS, about 80 per cent of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by the skin disorder while the British Skin Foundation reports that nearly 20 per cent of sufferers have considered suicide because of it.

For those that deal with acne, it’s about so much more than just getting spots.

Luckily, scientists at the University of California San Diego have been working hard to come up with a solution once and for all but, it hasn’t been without its complications.

“Acne is caused, in part, by P. acnes bacteria that are with you your whole life and we couldn’t create a vaccine for the bacteria because, in some ways, P. acnes are good for you,” Eric C. Huange, the project’s lead researcher told Allure.

“But we found an antibody to a toxic protein that P. acnes bacteria secrete on skin – the protein is associated with the inflammation that leads to acne.”

In short, this means that the vaccine will work to block the acne-causing effects of the bacteria without completely eradicating it.

Still in its infancy, the formula has been tested on skin biopsies that the researchers collection from acne patients with good results.

The next step? Scientists are hoping to test on people in clinical trials which they hope will get under way in the next couple of years.