Phages could amplify irritation

Skin irritation that flares when treatment resumes may arise from viruses moving between skin bacteria. The hypothesis distinguishes it from leftover drug. The test uses reconstructed skin containing defined bacteria. After drug removal is confirmed, researchers would transfer a purified bacteriophage fraction - viruses that infect bacteria - into untreated skin with the same bacteria. Serial culture would dilute mediators below active concentrations. If heightened irritation transferred, then declined after phage replication - the production of new viruses inside bacterial hosts - was selectively arrested while bacterial numbers stayed stable, that outcome would support the hypothesis. Support would require a pure fraction, specific arrest and exclusion of residual drug.