Teens may soon have one less thing to be angsty about.
A breakthrough new study gives hope that a cure for acne could soon be on the way.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications on Monday, details the genetic mechanisms behind what causes unsightly blemishes — which could hold the code for new treatments.
The findings could improve the quality of life for acne suffers everywhere, said study co-author Catherine Smith in a statement reported by HealthDay.
These acne-cursed “individuals describe consequent profound, negative impacts on their psychological and social well-being,” said Smith, a professor of dermatology at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in Britain.
“It’s exciting that this work opens up potential avenues to find treatments for them,” she added.
Smith’s team analyzed genomic data of more than 20,000 people with acne worldwide, and compared that to 595,000 more individuals without it. Through their work, researchers identified 29 new genetic variants that are seen more often in people with acne. A total of 46 known variants have been associated with acne overall.
The study also showed that those with more of the genetic variants associated with acne tended to also suffer worse breakouts.
Knowing acne’s markers in the DNA could help scientists develop more targeted treatments.
Plus, some of the newly discovered variants have previously been associated with other hair, skin and nail conditions, the authors noted, suggesting that emerging acne treatments could borrow from successful therapies established with other known dermatologic problems.
“We know that the causes of acne are complicated, with a mix of biological factors such as genetics and hormones, and environmental factors,” noted Michael Simpson, head of the Genomic Medicine Group at King’s College London.
“Understanding the genetics of the condition will help us to disentangle some of these causes, and find the best way to treat the condition,” Simpson added. “This is a really promising area for further study, and opens up a lot of avenues for research.”