Final answer:
Yes, Cutibacterium acnes is part of the normal flora of the skin and plays a role in maintaining its health, but can also be associated with acne when its balance with other microbes is disturbed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cutibacterium acnes, formerly known as Propionibacterium acnes, is indeed part of the normal flora of the skin, particularly within sebaceous glands. More than 100 bacterial species live on the surface of the human body, including C. acnes which uses oil from sebaceous glands as a food source. While two strains of C. acnes are associated with the development of acne, others are linked to healthy skin, underscoring the bacterium's role in the normal skin microbiota. C. acnes is an example of normal microbiota that maintains an important role in skin health by keeping a balance among microorganisms. This balance helps prevent infections and overgrowth of harmful microbes. However, when the equilibrium of these microorganisms is disturbed, for example by antibiotic treatment, it may lead to an overgrowth of a certain species and potentially result in infection.