LONDON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- People who experience more acne outbreaks during adolescence may age more slowly, a study conducted by scientists at King's College London suggests.
The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology on Wednesday, links longer telomeres found in individuals with higher levels of acne to a slower aging process later in life.
Telomeres are protective nucleotides found at the end of chromosomes within an individual's cells. The particles gradually break down as cells continually replicate over time.
Dr. Simone Ribero, the study's lead author, says dermatologists have long speculated that high levels of acne signify a slower aging process. However, he maintains his latest findings are more conclusive.
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"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," he explained in a press release. "Whilst this has been observed in clinical settings, the cause of this was previously unclear."
During the study, researchers measured the lengths of telomeres found in the white blood cells of 1,205 twins. Following a statistical analysis adjusted for age, weight, and height, scientists observed white blood cells with longer telomere lengths were more protected against cell deterioration that eventually leading to the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of age.
"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," Dr. Ribero added. "By looking at skin biopsies, we were able to begin to understand the gene expressions related to this."
The study's lead author concedes further work is needed to determine if certain gene pathways play a larger role.
