Got acne?  You may be in luck. Scientists at King’s College London have good news for you. A recent study has shown that people who have suffered with acne are more likely to have longer telomeres in their white blood cells. What are telomeres, you ask? Telomeres are structures at the end of chromosomes. They regularly break down and shrink as cells get older, killing off the cell. Yes, this is normal as we age and grow; don’t freak out.

A recent study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. The scientists measured the length of white blood cell telomeres in 1,205 twins. A quarter of the twins that were studied reported that they’d suffered with acne in their lives. These analyses were modified for age, weight, and height. The scientists showed that the telomere length in acne sufferers was much longer, meaning that the white blood cells were more protected from the usual downfall that comes with aging.

Dermatologists have also recognized that the skin of acne sufferers seems to age more slowly than the skin of those without zits. Signs of aging such as wrinkles and skin thinning pop up much later in people who have dealt with acne. There’s the good news you were looking for!

Leading author of the study, Dr. Simone Ribero, a dermatologist from the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology said: “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. 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. By looking at skin biopsies, we were able to begin to understand the gene expressions related to this. Further work is required to consider if certain gene pathways may provide a base for useful interventions.”

In normal words, the length of telomeres is different from those who have acne. What does that mean? Acne-affected cells are more protected against aging!

So the next time you see a person with perfect skin, just know that they won’t be so perfect when they get older. Aren’t you lucky?!