388 | id == 388
388 | category_id == 24
388 | category_order == 21
388 | category_name == Acne
388 | category_color == #C47AC0
388 | slug == IL8-acne
388 | title == A Genetic Link Between an Immune System Protein & Acne (IL8)
388 | meta_description == IL-8 can promote inflammation. Variants of IL8 have been associated with acne. Read more here.
388 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>IL-8 can attract immune system cells to sites of infection, and thereby promote inflammation. A variant of <em>IL8</em> has been associated with acne. Read more to learn about this association, and about recommendations you may follow to mitigate the negative effects of this variant.</strong></p>
388 | overall_score_text == Your Acne Score (based on IL8 gene)
388 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/IL-8-Acne.jpg
388 | author_id == 14
388 | author_name == Shany Lahan
388 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
388 | author_order == 5
388 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
388 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
388 | reviewer == None
388 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
388 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
388 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
388 | publish_date == 2020
388 | publish_date == 10
388 | publish_date == 7
388 | avg_rating == 5.0
388 | tags_id == 792
388 | tags_name == Chemokine
388 | tags_id == 784
388 | tags_name == Cutibacterium acnes
388 | tags_id == 357
388 | tags_name == CXCL8 (IL8) gene
388 | tags_id == 358
388 | tags_name == IL-8
388 | tags_id == 24
388 | tags_name == Inflammation
388 | tags_id == 783
388 | tags_name == Sebum
388 | permissions_favorite == False
388 | permissions_rate == False
388 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-8 is a protein that can promote inflammation by attracting immune system cells to infection sites. A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL8 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in acne by increasing IL-8 production. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by decreasing production of IL-8 and lowering inflammation.&nbsp;</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>IL8</em> and Acne</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-8 is a small protein (chemokine) that is released from immune system cells, and can attract other cells of the immune system to areas of infection. In this manner, IL-8 can promote targeted inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/3576"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Levels of IL-8 may be increased in the skin pores of individuals with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/everything-need-know-acne/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">acne</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26547713/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">These individuals often produce an oily substance called sebum in excess. Sebum provides an ideal living and growth environment for the bacterium </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutibacterium acnes</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which has been shown to stimulate the release of IL-8 and subsequently promote inflammation and acne development [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12592074/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31127384/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs4073-A of </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/il8/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL8</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">has been associated with acne. Carriers of this variant have been observed to produce a greater amount of IL-8 than rs4073-T carriers. Similar to the effects of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutibacterium acnes</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an increased amount of IL-8 may heighten inflammatory responses within skin pores and in turn, promote the formation of acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26547713/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>IL8</em> Results for Acne</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2751712116076028*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>IL8 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs4073/"><strong>rs4073</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased risk and severity of acne</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with acne</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*3994690720458473*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations for Improving Acne</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*3287913296476532*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Light Therapy</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Light therapy involves applying light (at specific wavelengths) to human skin, in order to elicit effects within the underlying tissue.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/red-light-therapy-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Red light</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/blue-light-therapy-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blue light</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and their combination have all been shown to improve acne. In one study, the combination of red and blue light was found to be more effective than either wavelength alone, and was also more effective than a conventional acne medication [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28338214/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19239470/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6846280/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10809858/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blue light has been observed to kill </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutibacterium</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">acnes </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">in test tubes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3438385/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial focused on acne patients, combined red and blue light therapy reduced sebum production, decreased production of IL-8, lowered inflammation, and significantly improved acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23278295/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Red and blue light therapy may improve acne by reducing sebum production, decreasing production of IL-8, and lowering inflammation.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Low Glycemic Index Foods</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studies show that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can increase the production of sebum. This suggests that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">high glycemic index</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> foods, or foods that quickly raise blood insulin levels, may increase the risk of acne. High glycemic index foods include bread, cakes, candies, sugary soft drinks, and pastries [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22327146/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alternatively, low glycemic index foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains may protect against acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22327146/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indeed, in 2 clinical trials, participants that followed a low glycemic index diet for 12 weeks experienced reduced acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22419445/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17616769/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18178063/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial, a 10-week low glycemic index diet not only improved acne in patients -- it was also observed to reduce sebum production, decrease production of IL-8, and lower inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22678562/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Eating low glycemic index foods may improve acne by reducing sebum production, decreasing production of IL-8, and lowering inflammation.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Fish Oil (Omega-3)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/fish-oil-top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> contains the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Omega-3 fatty acids have long been known to have anti-inflammatory effects, and have therefore been suggested to prevent acne by lowering inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10617994/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish oil supplements improved overall acne severity in a number of clinical trials and case studies. This improvement was especially evident in those with moderate-to-severe acne [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543297/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2577647/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial, omega-3 fatty acids were found to reduce acne by lowering inflammation. Decreased inflammation was determined via reduction of IL-8 [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24553997/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Fish oil (omega-3) supplements may improve acne by decreasing production of IL-8 and lowering inflammation. </span></p>
388 | content_snp_table_2751712116076028_key == 2751712116076028
388 | content_snp_table_2751712116076028_blur == True
388 | content_snp_table_2751712116076028_hidden == False
388 | content_learn_more_3994690720458473_key == 3994690720458473
388 | content_learn_more_3994690720458473_blur == True
388 | content_learn_more_3994690720458473_hidden == False
388 | content_learn_more_3994690720458473_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your IL8 gene makes you somewhat more likely to develop acne. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of acne; it’s just one gene related to it. Low glycemic index foods, light therapy, and fish oil (omega-3) may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
388 | content_recommendation_3287913296476532_key == 3287913296476532
388 | content_recommendation_3287913296476532_blur == True
388 | content_recommendation_3287913296476532_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs4073
rsStatus = rs4073,CXCL8,chr4,73740307,A,C,G,T,27,0,Normal
