A study into the genetics of acne revealed 29 regions of the genome that underpin the condition, which could offer potential new treatment targets and may also help clinicians identify individuals at high risk of severe disease.
A common skin condition, acne is estimated to affect 80% of adolescents, with common features including spots and cysts, pigment changes and scarring. The face is the most common site, with the chest and back also frequently involved. The negative psychological consequences of acne are seen in all ages, but are of particular concern for many adolescents.
The research, published in Nature Communications, analysed nine genome wide association study datasets from patients around the world. These studies involved scanning the whole genomes of 20 165 people with acne and 595 231 without. The study identified 29 new genetic variants that are more common in people with acne. It also confirmed 14 of the 17 variants already known to be associated with the condition, which brings the total number of known variants to 46.
Professor Catherine Smith at St John’s Institute of Dermatology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: “Despite major treatment advances in other skin conditions, progress in acne has been limited. As well as suffering from the symptoms of acne, individuals describe consequent profound, negative impacts on their psychological and social wellbeing. It’s exciting that this work opens up potential avenues to find treatments for them.”
A number of genes associated with acne were identified, and are also linked to other skin and hair conditions. The team believe this will help to understand the causes of acne, which could be a mix of factors.
“We know that the causes of acne are complicated, with a mix of biological factors such as genetics and hormones, and environmental factors,” said Professor Michael Simpson at King’s College London. “Understanding the genetics of the condition will help us to disentangle some of these causes, and find the best way to treat the condition. This is a really promising area for further study, and opens up a lot of avenues for research.”
The study also uncovered a link between the genetic risk of acne and disease severity. Individuals with the highest genetic risk are more likely to have severe disease. While further research is required, this finding raises the potential to identify individuals at risk of severe disease for early intervention.
Source: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London
