Sure, bumps, lumps, and pimples can be unsightly. But according to a 2016 study, there’s a silver lining for those who suffer from acne.
The bright side? Your skin may age more slowly than that of those without mottled skin through adolescence and beyond. At least, that’s what a British study suggests, which examined over 1,200 twins, one-quarter of whom struggled with acne at some point in their lives.
“For many years, dermatologists have identified that the skin of acne sufferers appears to age more slowly than in those who have not experienced any acne in their lifetime.
Whilst this has been observed in clinical settings, the cause of this was previously unclear,” says lead researcher Dr. Simone Ribero, a dermatologist in the department of twin research and genetic epidemiology at King’s College London.
RELATED: Adult Acne: Why the Sudden Breakout?
“Our findings suggest that the cause could be linked to the length of telomeres, which appears to be different in acne sufferers and means their cells may be protected against aging,” Ribero said in a college news release.
What are telomeres and why are they important? Telomeres (tel-uh-meer), from the Greek telos (end) and meros (part), play an essential role in how our cells age. Much like the coating at the end of a shoelace prevents fraying, telomeres cap the ends of each DNA strand, protecting our chromosomes.
Many previous studies have found a strong connection between short telomeres and cellular aging. “For example, the immune system, which normally weakens as we age, is highly sensitive to the shortening of telomeres. In addition, a 2007 study revealed that short telomeres were related to decreases in bone mineral density in women.”
The paper’s senior author, dermatologist Dr. Veronique Bataille, also said, “Longer telomeres are likely to be one factor explaining the protection against premature skin aging in individuals who previously suffered from acne.”
According to the findings, twins with a history of acne vulgaris, the most common skin condition in the United States, which causes blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules (what many people call pimples), cysts, and nodules, were more likely to have longer telomeres in their white blood cells.
“By looking at skin biopsies, we were able to begin to understand the gene expressions related to this. Further work is required to consider if certain gene pathways may provide a base for useful interventions,” Ribero added.
Meanwhile, earlier research has found that telomere length in white blood cells can predict aging and is associated with telomere length in other cells in the body, the study claims. However, keep in mind that these findings should be taken with a grain of salt, as the latest study failed to prove a “cause-and-effect link between telomere length and skin aging.”
While the possibility of slower skin aging may be a silver lining for those who’ve dealt with acne, don’t count on breakouts as your anti-aging strategy. The research is intriguing, but it doesn’t prove that acne prevents wrinkles or keeps skin youthful over time.
Want to keep your skin looking its best as you age? Try these tips:
Acne may offer researchers clues about how skin ages, but clear skin and healthy skin aren’t mutually exclusive. Focus on protecting your skin today rather than relying on a history of breakouts to keep wrinkles at bay.
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
