Study identifies 29 new genetic variants linked to acne

Researchers have mapped 29 previously unknown genetic regions that influence whether someone develops acne, the largest genetic study of the condition to date. The work, published in Nature Communications, analyzed DNA from over 20,000 people with acne and nearly 600,000 without, identifying genetic variants that appear more frequently in those affected by the skin condition. The findings also confirmed 14 of 17 variants already suspected to play a role, bringing the total number of known acne-linked genetic markers to 46.

Acne remains one of the most common skin conditions, affecting roughly 80 percent of teenagers. Beyond the visible lesions—spots, cysts, pigment changes, and scarring that typically appear on the face, chest, and back—the psychological toll weighs heavily on patients across all ages. For adolescents especially, the emotional and social consequences can be profound. Despite significant advances in treating other skin disorders, acne treatment has lagged, a gap the research team hopes to narrow.

The study, led by investigators at St John's Institute of Dermatology at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, along with the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, combined nine separate genome-wide association datasets from patients worldwide. By scanning the complete genomes of affected and unaffected individuals, researchers were able to pinpoint genetic patterns associated with acne susceptibility.

Perhaps more clinically significant than simply identifying risk variants, the research found a direct link between genetic risk burden and disease severity. People carrying the highest number of acne-associated genetic variants were more likely to experience severe disease. This opens a potential pathway for clinicians to identify patients at greatest risk of serious acne early, before the condition progresses, allowing for more aggressive preventive intervention.

Professor Catherine Smith, a dermatology professor at St John's Institute, noted that the discovery addresses a long-standing gap in acne research. "Despite major treatment advances in other skin conditions, progress in acne has been limited," she said. "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."

The genetic variants identified also overlap with genes linked to other skin and hair conditions, suggesting shared biological pathways. This overlap may help researchers understand how acne develops as a complex condition influenced by multiple biological systems. Acne is known to result from a combination of factors—genetic predisposition, hormonal fluctuations, and environmental triggers all play roles. By isolating the genetic component, researchers can begin to disentangle these causes and develop more targeted treatments.

Professor Michael Simpson, head of the Genomic Medicine Group at King's College London, emphasized the research's potential to reshape how acne is understood and treated. "Understanding the genetics of the condition will help us to disentangle some of these causes, and find the best way to treat the condition," he said. "This is a really promising area for further study, and opens up a lot of avenues for research."

The work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Guy's and St Thomas' Biomedical Research Centre. While the findings represent a significant step forward, researchers acknowledge that further work is needed to translate these genetic insights into new therapies and to validate the predictive value of genetic risk scoring for identifying patients who will develop severe disease.