Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences found at the end of chromosomes which protect them from deteriorating during the process of replication. Telomeres gradually break down and shrink as cells age, eventually leading to cell death which is a normal part of human growth and aging.
It might be cold comfort for those of you struggling with bad skin right now, but a new study has found that people with acne tend to have younger-looking skin as they grow older.
Statistical analyses which adjusted for age, relatedness, weight and height showed that telomere length in acne sufferers was significantly longer, meaning that white blood cells were more protected from the usual deterioration with age. One of the genes involved in telomere length was also associated with acne in a replication sample from the UK Acne Genetic study, also lead by King's scientists.
Comparing genetic information from women with and without acne, the study found that acne-prone women had significantly longer telomeres (or chromosome caps) than their clear-skinned counterparts, which means their cells were better protected from the deterioration that usually comes with age.
"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," said lead researcher Simone Ribero, a dermatologist at King's College London.
"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 ageing."
Telomeres are DNA-protecting structures at the ends of our chromosomes. Think of them like those little plastic caps that sit on the ends of your shoelaces to keep them from fraying. Each time a cell divides, its telomeres get shorter, to the point where the cell can't replicate anymore.
Dermatologists have long noted that the skin of acne sufferers appears to age more slowly than the skin of those with no history of acne. Signs of aging such as wrinkles and skin thinning often appear much later in people who have experienced acne in their lifetime. It has been suggested that this is due to increased oil production but there are likely to be other factors involved.
The researchers also examined gene expression in pre-existing skin biopsies from the same twins to identify possible gene pathways linked to acne. One gene pathway , which regulates programmed cell loss, was found to be less expressed in acne sufferers' skin. This requires further investigation to identify other genes involved in cell aging and how they differ in acne sufferers.
Well, it turns out you get to live more than they are going to. Yes, you heard that right acne can actually help our skin from aging. It was just an observation till now but scientists have proved the reason.
let’s think of telomeres as the plastic caps at the end of the shoelaces. Those caps save the laces from tearing down. Similarly, the telomeres save the chromosomes from breaking down.
But for those having a tough time with their skin right now, it's nice to know that you might end up having the last laugh.
