HERE’S something else grumpy teenagers can blame their parents for – their zits.
In a study of identical and non-identical twins, Veronique Bataille of St Thomas’ Hospital in London and her team have shown that acne is 80 per cent genetic. Environmental factors, such as eating the wrong foods or wearing greasy make-up, are relatively unimportant. They will report their results in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Finding the genes involved could clarify what triggers acne, and possibly lead to cheaper, more effective treatments. Worldwide, prescription drugs for acne cost about $4 billion each year.
