Happy Mother’s Day! If you are celebrating with your mother, or you are a mother celebrating – have a fabulous day. At SkinBase we thought today was the perfect day to answer a burning question – humans have up to 25,000 genes, but is bad skin genetic? So, let’s find out!
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Is Bad Skin Genetic?
A predisposition to skin concerns like acne, eczema, and psoriasis is likely to be genetic. While there is no specific acne gene, you are more likely to suffer if it “runs in the family”. Your genes influence the production of proteins in your body. Proteins – such as collagen fibres – are key to maintaining a healthy appearance.
Genes
Genes are not necessarily a bad thing. They allow traits to be passed from one generation to another. If you are lucky, you can inherit a unique resistance to the effects of ageing and environment from your parents. People with darker skin – inherited from their parents – will have more natural sun protection. Lighter skin tones tend to burn more easily. This is all inherited.
Environmental Factors
The good news is that as much as genes play a part, it is important to consider that environmental factors combine with genes to affect skin health. Whether you have good skin genes or bad, you need to handle the effect the environment may have on your skin. The worst conditions for your skin are hot, dry and urban. Your skin will lose moisture due to the heat – which will expose it to pollutants. This makes it harder for your skin to renew itself. Drink plenty of water and always protect with SPF before you go outside. A polluted environment can disrupt your skin’s defences and speed up the ageing process. Cleanse often to get rid of any pollutants that could upset your skin’s balance.
Sun Protection
You can’t change your genes – but you can protect from UV exposure. Wear SPF throughout the year and wear a hat / cover up whenever possible. Maintain a consistent skincare routine (and combine with healthy habits) to balance any problematic skin. You can help your genes do their best by protecting your skin from damage. Not all bad skin is genetic. With a few small tweaks to your skincare, you can avoid the dangers the environment poses to your skin.
