Your Skin Has Natural Antibiotics

Particular infection-fighting proteins act as natural antibiotics in the skin of mice, according to US scientists. It is the first evidence in mammals that such proteins, known as antimicrobial peptides, can perform like antibiotic drugs.

Since humans also have these types of proteins, the researchers say their findings suggest people can churn out their own antibiotics in the face of a germ invasion.

The study looked at the role of cathelicidins in the innate immune defenses of mice. Cathelicidins, or caths, are small pieces of protein that dwell in certain cells in mammals, including humans. While caths have been known to aid in the body's defenses -- such as helping wound healing -- it has been unclear whether they can kill infectious bugs.

Investigators studied a mouse cathelicidin called CRAMP, which has a human counterpart called LL-37. This suggests that the human cath is also an innate antibiotic.

Caths are located in various tissues other than skin, including the lungs and intestines, and in white blood cells called neutrophils. They jump into action when necessary, increasing their levels in tissue under assault. Unlike antibiotic drugs, which are notoriously overused, the body doles out caths only when needed.

Nature November 22, 2001;414:454-457

Comment

It is quite common for many to seek to rely on antibiotic creams and soaps with chemicals, like triclosan, to kill bacteria. This could be a huge mistake for many reasons.

As the study from the prestigious journal Nature indicates, our skin already has the capacity to produce antibiotic-like chemicals that perform the same function. Additionally, there is the likely more important issue that the externally applied chemicals will seriously alter the delicate balance of microorganisms

I believe that we are all blessed with the biochemical machinery to maintain our health. One needs to exercise exceptional caution when using external chemicals like antibiotics to treat infections.