Virus may end the pain of acne

A medical breakthrough could prevent teenagers going through the pain of acne.

Scientists at the University of Leeds have isolated a virus that destroys the bacteria that can cause the skin condition. Microbiologists at the university's skin research centre have succeeded in growing the virus artificially.

Laboratory tests suggest the development may lead to an antidote for propionibacterium acnes, known as P.acnes, the bacteria that induces inflammation of hair follicles. Scientists-believe the development could lead to treatments free of the chemical side effects of some washes and could overcome the increasing resistance of p.acnes to antibiotics because the isolated virus destroys the bacteria naturally.

Keith Holland, leading the research, said: "This treatment is using an organism which appears on the human skin. That is its absolute beauty."