Family History Linked to Higher Risk of Developing Severe Acne

Patients with severe acne and its variants are likely to have a family history of severe acne, according to results from a recent study published in Pediatric Dermatology.

Researchers examined the natural history and heritability of severe acne with scarring in patients undergoing isotretinoin therapy to correlate heritability and clinical severity in a study that included a total of 101 participants. Study participants were given an interview that assessed their acne to determine a historical Investigator’s Global Assessment (hIGA) score, with 0 being clear and 5 being very severe. Study participants also underwent an examination to determine an examination Investigator’s Global Assessment (eIGA) score.

A total of 44.5% of the study participants were Caucasian and 79.2% were men. Among these, 86.1% used doxycycline and/or minocycline. The mean eIGA score was 2.7 and the mean hIGA score was 4.4. A total of 37.2% of participants had 1 first-degree relative with a history of moderate or severe acne with scarring; 30% of patients with hemorrhagic disease had at least 1 parent with moderate or severe acne.

“Severe forms of acne often ‘cluster’ in families, underscoring the heritable nature of acne and the prognostic value of a family history of moderate or severe disease,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Greywal T, Kusari A, Han AM, et al. Severe acne and its variants: exploring its natural history and heritability. Pediatr Dermatol. Published online May 18, 2022. doi:10.1111/pde.14990