390 | id == 390
390 | category_id == 24
390 | category_order == 21
390 | category_name == Acne
390 | category_color == #C47AC0
390 | slug == HSD11B1-cortisol-acne
390 | title == Cortisol Genetics in Acne Development (HSD11B1)
390 | meta_description == The HSD11B1 gene helps produce cortisol. Click to learn about its link with metabolism and acne development.
390 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>What do stress, insulin resistance, and acne have in common? They are all influenced by cortisol. Read this post to learn how the HSD11B1 gene affects cortisol production and acne development!</strong></p>
390 | overall_score_text == Your Acne Score (based on HSD11B1 gene)
390 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/HSD11B1-Acne.jpg
390 | author_id == 9
390 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
390 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
390 | author_order == 45
390 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
390 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
390 | reviewer == None
390 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
390 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
390 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
390 | publish_date == 2020
390 | publish_date == 10
390 | publish_date == 8
390 | avg_rating == 5.0
390 | tags_id == 774
390 | tags_name == Acne
390 | tags_id == 416
390 | tags_name == Cortisol
390 | tags_id == 794
390 | tags_name == HSD11B1 gene
390 | tags_id == 289
390 | tags_name == Metabolic syndrome
390 | tags_id == 776
390 | tags_name == Skin health
390 | tags_id == 50
390 | tags_name == Stress
390 | permissions_favorite == False
390 | permissions_rate == False
390 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><strong>The HSD11B1 gene encodes an enzyme that helps produce cortisol. </strong><strong>Excess cortisol can impair fat and glucose metabolism and contribute to acne development.<br /><br /></strong><strong>One HSD11B1 variant is associated with metabolic impairments and a higher risk of acne.<br /><br /></strong><strong>Follow our gene-based recommendations to improve acne.</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>HSD11B1 Gene, Cortisol &amp; Acne</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/hsd11b1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HSD11</span></a><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/thiamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">B1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes an enzyme that helps make </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the stress hormone [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HSD11B1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Besides controlling the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/factors-counteract-stress-response/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress response</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, cortisol can affect </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glucose/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glucose</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and fat metabolism. High cortisol levels are associated with abdominal obesity and </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/top-tips-for-fixing-insulin-resistance/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin resistance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the key features of metabolic syndrome [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15181046/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25871955/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In turn, metabolic syndrome contributes to acne development. Elevated insulin and excess fat tissue can stimulate sebum production and worsen skin inflammation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29483947/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12472346/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11955793/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Steroid acne</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is caused by high cortisol and other corticosteroids. People with acne tend to have higher cortisol blood levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6350638/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18704103/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The HSD11B1 gene helps produce cortisol. Excess cortisol can impair fat and glucose metabolism and contribute to acne development.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Your HSD11B1 Results for Acne</strong></h2> <p>*5244167965856359*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs12086634/"><strong>rs12086634</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6350638/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; - associated with higher odds of acne</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; - not associated with acne&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele was also associated with higher LDL </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/triglycerides/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">triglycerides</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and body-mass index, confirming the link between cortisol, metabolism, and acne.</span></li> </ul> <p>*6993253336459797*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Improve Acne</strong></h2> <p>*9623679366509814*</p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Stress Reduction</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Psychological </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the primary trigger for cortisol release and the cause of high cortisol levels. Thus, it can be particularly harmful to people with rs12086634-G [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studies in adolescents and young adults have associated stress with increased acne severity, especially in males [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17340019/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12873885/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Stress may also slow the repair of acne wounds [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10232300/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small clinical trial, a relaxation therapy helped improve acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6224928/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Avoid stress and practice your favorite relaxation techniques to lower the impact of your genes on acne development.</span></p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Reduce Sugar Intake</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased intake of simple sugars, especially sugar-sweetened beverages, can amplify cortisol&rsquo;s adverse metabolic effects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3946447/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5159234/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sources of simple sugars and refined carbs&mdash;such as white bread, cakes, candies, sugary soft drinks, and pastries&mdash;are </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">high-glycemic-index</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> foods. They spike </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">insulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which increases fat production in the skin and may increase the risk and severity of 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><span style="font-weight: 400;">In line with this, populations not eating refined carbohydrates don&rsquo;t suffer from acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22419445/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. A low-glycemic-index diet followed for 12 weeks improved acne in two clinical trials [</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><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Simple sugars and refined carbs may worsen your genetic risk of acne, so try to reduce their intake.</span></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Fish Oil</strong></h4> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplementation can reduce the stress response and cortisol levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12909818/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23390041/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. At the same time, it may help with metabolic syndrome by improving triglycerides and blood pressure [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4957330/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4054797/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil reduced acne severity in two clinical trials and a few case studies, especially for 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://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24553997/"><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><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Fish oil may improve acne by targeting your HSD11B1 variant.</span></p>
390 | content_snp_table_5244167965856359_key == 5244167965856359
390 | content_snp_table_5244167965856359_blur == True
390 | content_snp_table_5244167965856359_hidden == False
390 | content_learn_more_6993253336459797_key == 6993253336459797
390 | content_learn_more_6993253336459797_blur == True
390 | content_learn_more_6993253336459797_hidden == False
390 | content_learn_more_6993253336459797_text == Based on the variant we looked at, your HSD11B1 gene is associated with slightly higher odds of developing acne. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of acne; it’s just a genetic factor related to it. Try to avoid stress and reduce sugar intake to counteract your gene variant. Keep scrolling to find out more.
390 | content_recommendation_9623679366509814_key == 9623679366509814
390 | content_recommendation_9623679366509814_blur == True
390 | content_recommendation_9623679366509814_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs12086634
rsStatus = rs12086634,HSD11B1,chr1,209706914,T,G,,,32,0,Normal
