Breakouts may be the secret to younger-looking skin

Anyone who has dealt with severe breakouts either growing up or well into their adult life, will agree that there’s a reason for the term ‘acne sufferers’. It’s a tough skin condition to keep under control, and even conceal under makeup, and you wouldn’t wish it upon your worst enemy. But, it turns out there’s actually a silver lining!

In the best news for acne-sufferers since Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, scientists at King’s College London are claiming that people who have suffered from acne are better protected to fight the signs of ageing, thanks to the likelihood that they have longer telomeres (which protect chromosomes from deterioration during the process of replication) in their white blood cells.

According to this study, for most of us, “telomeres gradually break down and shrink as cells age, eventually leading to cell death, which is a normal part of human growth and ageing.” But not so for blemished skin.

The lead author for the study and dermatologist Dr. Simone Ribero said of their findings that, “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 ageing.”

While they did admit further studies are required to dig deeper, it’s safe to say today is a big win for blemish-prone skin.

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Main image credit: Getty