Acne and Family History: are pimples inherited?

By Brooke Strickland
Writer for FEP International

The adolescent years are difficult. Not only are you figuring yourself out, but your body is going through a ton of hormonal changes. For some teenagers, acne complicates the already challenging times of change and development. Many teens experience occasional break outs, while some develop more extensive acne that can continue on into their adult years. A new study reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that family history can play a large role in whether or not a person will develop acne in their teen years. Researchers looked primarily at Iranian high school students and found that teenagers whose parents or siblings have had moderate to severe acne, 20 percent had the same problem. In contrast, only 10 percent of teens developed acne with no family history of it. In addition, for teens whose mothers had acne, they were three times more likely to develop the skin condition than their peers [1].

While genetics can clearly play a role in the flare up of breakouts, there are also some other ways to help avoid acne. Follow these simple steps to help keep your skin clear and healthy.

* Clean your face: Washing your face several times a day with a mild cleanser. This can help open up the pores in your face, keeping them free from dirt and bacteria.

* Eat a balanced diet: Avoid greasy, fatty foods, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest ways of keeping not only your skin healthy, but the rest of your body feeling strong.

* Drink enough water: Drinking water helps flush the toxins out of your system, ultimately preventing breakouts from the inside out.

* Keep hair off your face: All hair has oil in it, so when it comes into contact with your face, it can sometimes produce excess oil and blemishes.

* Avoid heavy cosmetics: There are some hypo-allergenic cosmetics on the market today that can help you look good and keep your skin fresh. Just make sure to wash it off completely at the end of the day.

* Keep your hands away from your face: Your fingers and hands are naturally oily and have bacteria on them, so make sure to keep them away from your face unless you are washing it.

Your set of skin is the only set you will ever get, so make sure to take good care of it and give yourself a great first impression by taking good care of it.

Reference

1. Family History Linked to Acne in Teens. Reuters. Accessed on the Web September 3, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5824QP20090903