Do We Inherit Acne?

So, what might be inherited that puts people at greater risk of developing acne? Several factors have been suggested, including hormonal influences, being overweight and having excess sebum production. In the Australian study, the only thing that emerged as common in affected than in an unaffected twin was of lower apolipoprotein levels in their blood. This protein is involved in processing cholesterol and so might be linked to sebum production.

 

In this context, it is again worth noting that people eating a healthy Mediterranean diet are less likely to suffer from acne, perhaps because this reduces cholesterol and therefore sebum production, as well as maintaining a healthy weight.

 

 

If you have a family member with acne, and you have not developed it, then it would be helpful to be vigilant so that help can be sought at an early stage. Also, if a family member has been treated successfully for acne, then this will give you a clue as to what might be helpful for you. It is also important to bear in mind that you can influence the course of the condition markedly through attention to lifestyle factors, especially diet, as detailed in blogs elsewhere on this site. A useful phrase to remember is that genetics loads the gun, but it is the environment that pulls the trigger.