Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually. It usually begins in puberty and affects many adolescents and young adults. Approximately 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience at least minor acne. This can occur at any stage of life and may continue into one’s 30s and 40s.

However, there are no specific treatments for this issue, but with expensive creams, ointments, and pills providing some benefit but not often the complete resolution. Recently, Now, a large genetic study shows the possibility that we have overlooked the most important factor in the development of acne.

“Applying these genetic approaches to acne has never been done before, and it’s a significant leap forward,” said Professor Jonathan Barker, lead author of the study, in a statement.

According to research in nature communications, when looked at 26,722 individuals, of which 5,602 had severe acne. Researchers have recognized that 15 regions of the genome linked to its development. It has found that many of these genetic variants influenced the formation of hair follicles, making it a significant but previously unknown risk factor in developing acne.

“It was surprising that so many of the variants appear to influence the structure and function of the hair follicle,” said Michael Simpson, head of the Genomic Medicine Group at King’s College London.

“It may be that the genetic variation influences the shape of these hair follicles and makes them more prone to bacteria and inflammation, which are a characteristic of acne.”

There is a genetic variant called WNT10A and this linked to ectodermal dysplasia, a form that causes sparse, thin hair as well as other physical irregularities of the nails, teeth, skin, and glands. Around 22 percent of the phenotypic variance in acne patients were described by the genetic variants surveyed in the study, with the 15 significant loci accounting for around 3 percent of that. This suggests there are likely other regions contributing to the condition that has not been discovered yet.

Approximately 85 percent of people are dealing with acne breakouts at some point in their lives. Therefore, these red bumps can burst and leave scars on the body and 20 percent of patients are experiencing this issue. so, patients who are suffering due to acne, they are using capsules, pustules, and nodules. These medicines provide added hope for new treatment possibilities.

Acne is often thought to be a trivial problem, especially when compared to other diseases. But some studies have shown that people with acne experienced social, psychological, and emotional ramifications at the same level as those with chronic health problems, like epilepsy, diabetes, and arthritis.

Fortunately, researchers are seeking new treatments for this issue and they hope to discover treatments with fewer side effects.