Waking up to find a pimple on your face has been the bane of all teens since time immemorial.Saying that, does acne have an upside? Does it mean you'll age slower?
ACNE, the ultimate sworn enemy of most teenagers and adults, often proves resistant to even the most popular products and home remedies.
Despite investing in various skincare routines and treatments, many of us continue to battle the breakouts for years.
However, what if those stubborn acne outbreaks could actually offer unexpected anti-aging benefits?
Individuals with acne-prone skin may actually age more slowly than those who don’t experience acne. Is this a recent myth or could there be some truth to it?
Verdict:
TRUE
According to recent research from King's College London, people who have experienced acne might actually age more slowly, meaning their cells could be better protected from aging than those who haven’t.
This is possible because the span of telomeres, the protective "caps" at the very ends of our DNA strands, is related to this remarkable discovery. As we age, our telomeres get shorter, which accelerates cell aging and ultimately leads to cell death.
The telomeres in the white blood cells of 1,205 twins from the TwinsUK cohort were examined in this study. They contrasted 39 pairs of twins who had previously had acne with 195 pairs of twins who had never had acne.
The findings published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, demonstrated that the telomere length was considerably longer in twins who had a history of acne.
This implies that their cells do indeed have greater protection against the normal aging process. Dermatologists have been noticing an interesting trend: people with acne also had fewer wrinkles and less thinning skin compared to those without acne.
Acne-related extra production of oil may keep the skin looking younger, other factors are likely at play too. Researchers also found that those with acne had lower activity in the p53 pathway, a gene that controls cell death. This might explain why their skin appears to age more slowly.
So, if you’ve ever wondered whether your acne might be giving you a hidden advantage, these findings suggest it could be helping your skin stay youthful.
Of course, more research is needed to fully understand how acne impacts aging, but it’s an intriguing idea that might make you see your breakouts in a new positive light.
References:
1. https://www.sciencedaily.com/
2. https://www.bbc.com/news/
3. https://www.sciencealert.com/
