Sure, having acne in your teen years was probably a devastating experience, but new findings suggest a history of acne may indicate your skin may be aging slower now that you’re older. The study included over 1,200 twins, with one-quarter of them struggling with acne at some point.
Lead researcher Dr. Simone Ribero said, “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. 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.”
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Found at the end of chromosomes, telomeres help protect them against deterioration during replication. As cells age, telomeres gradually break down, which ultimately results in the death of the cell.
Senior author Dr. Veronique Bataille explained, “Longer telomeres are likely to be one factor explaining the protection against premature skin aging in individuals who previously suffered from acne.”
Dr. Ribero added, “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.”
The study findings were published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
