What role does heredity play?

We need to know that heredity does play an important role in both the age of onset of our acne. In fact, it is also possible that severity and risk of scarring from acne is heredity (also known as genetics).

Studies suggest that our tendency to develop acne, especially severe acne, can be inherited from our parents. Statistics have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the condition. However, this does not mean that if one or both of our parents had acne that we are destined to have acne. But it does mean we have a higher chance of getting acne than someone without a family history of acne.

In families with strong histories of severe acne, it is very helpful to let our dermatologist know our family history and consider very close and regular follow-up of our acne treatment and acne control procedure.

Do remember that early evaluation and early acne treatment mean that severe scarring acne can be diagnosed earlier and that the sometimes disfiguring acne scars can be avoided or at least greatly minimized.