Those who experienced acne in their teens or longer will probably tell you that the condition can wreak havoc on confidence and self-esteem. But now, a new study has suggested acne sufferers may have the last laugh when it comes to youthful looking skin, after experts claimed those who have previously suffered with a persistent spotty complexion have a built-in protection against ageing. Essentially, the cells of acne sufferers have a protective, anti-ageing element that means wrinkles and thinning skin often appear a lot later in life.

Why is this?

The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology,

looked at 1,205 female twins – a quarter of which had acne.

Experts have previously noted that signs of ageing appear later in acne sufferers, but the team from King's College London set out to explore why. They looked at white blood cells taken from acne sufferers and found that these had longer protective caps at the end of the chromosomes. These caps - called telomeres - can be likened to the plastic caps on shoelaces that stop them getting frayed, meaning chromosomes (packages of DNA) are less likely to deteriorate.

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Telomeres shrink over time and those with longer ones tend to age at a slower rate. The experts found acne sufferers had significantly longer telomeres, hence are more likely to appear youthful later in life.

What does this mean?

Lead researcher Dr Simone Ribero said that by looking at skin biopsies, the team were able to understand the gene expressions related to this, but admits further work is required to see whether certain gene pathways may provide a base for useful ageing interventions.

If you're suffering with acne. Read part one of our three-step guide to clearer skin with top dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting.



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