392 | id == 392
392 | category_id == 24
392 | category_order == 21
392 | category_name == Acne
392 | category_color == #C47AC0
392 | slug == IL1A-acne
392 | title == The Relationship Between Clogged Pores & Acne (IL1A)
392 | meta_description == IL-1α is involved in the formation of clogged skin pores. Variants of IL1A have been associated with acne. Read more here.
392 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>IL-1&alpha; is an immune system messenger that can increase the production of a type of skin cell, and cause dead skin cells to stick to one another. This can ultimately result in clogged skin pores and the formation of acne. Read more to learn about the association between variants of <em>IL1A </em>and acne, and about recommendations that you may follow to mitigate the negative effects of these variants.</strong><br />  &nbsp;</p>
392 | overall_score_text == Your Acne Score (based on IL1A gene)
392 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/IL-1A-Acne.jpg
392 | author_id == 14
392 | author_name == Shany Lahan
392 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
392 | author_order == 5
392 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
392 | 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>
392 | reviewer == None
392 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
392 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
392 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
392 | publish_date == 2020
392 | publish_date == 10
392 | publish_date == 8
392 | avg_rating == 5.0
392 | tags_id == 784
392 | tags_name == Cutibacterium acnes
392 | tags_id == 798
392 | tags_name == IL1A Gene
392 | tags_id == 799
392 | tags_name == IL-1α
392 | tags_id == 24
392 | tags_name == Inflammation
392 | tags_id == 800
392 | tags_name == Keratinocyte
392 | permissions_favorite == False
392 | permissions_rate == False
392 | 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-1&alpha; is an immune system messenger. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1A </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in acne by inducing the formation of clogged skin pores and promoting inflammation. Lifestyle and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by lowering production of IL-1&alpha;, reducing inflammation, and unclogging skin pores.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>IL1A</em> and Acne</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL-1&alpha; is an immune system messenger (cytokine) that is continuously released in small amounts by a type of skin cell called keratinocyte, and by immune system cells upon their activation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2141048/"><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;">IL-1&alpha; has been shown to be involved in the early stages of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/everything-need-know-acne/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">acne</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> formation. Specifically, IL-1&alpha; may increase the production of keratinocytes and enhance the ability of dead keratinocytes to stick to one another, ultimately resulting in clogged skin pores. Clogged skin pores can provide an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria, such as </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutibacterium acnes</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20385541/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11180011/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12592074/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutibacterium acnes </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may promote acne development by stimulating the release of inflammatory proteins from immune system cells. IL-1&alpha; has also been suggested to stimulate the release of inflammatory cytokines from other cells found in the skin [</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/12592074/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8818187/"><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;">Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">IL1A </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may therefore induce acne formation by increasing the production of IL-1&alpha; and promoting inflammation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20630038/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25432444/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>IL1A</em> Results for Acne</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5390721840071024*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>IL1A </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1800587/"><strong>rs1800587</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased risk of acne</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with acne&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNP: </strong><strong><em>IL1A </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs17561/"><strong>rs17561</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased risk of acne</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with acne</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*1795636625291001*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations for Improving Acne</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5428641554084437*</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 decreased production of IL-1&alpha;, 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 decreasing production of IL-1&alpha; and lowering inflammation.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Exfoliation</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exfoliation can be defined as the removal of dead skin cells via a brush, scrub, chemical, etc. Exfoliation is believed to help with acne by removing skin cells that clog pores.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A number of studies support the use of chemicals for exfoliation in acne. These chemicals include salicylic acid, lactic acid, and phenol [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6053170/"><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;">Another method of exfoliation (microdermabrasion) improved acne and scarring in two small trials [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11442587/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11298700/"><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;">Although more studies need to be conducted, it&rsquo;s probable that unclogging pores through methods of exfoliation may decrease the growth of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cutibacterium</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">acnes </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">and subsequently lower inflammation.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Exfoliation may improve acne by removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Zinc</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research shows that people with low levels of the mineral </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/literally-everything-wanted-know-zinc-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">zinc</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are more likely to develop severe forms of acne [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4135093/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23826827/"><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;">A number of small clinical trials suggest that taking zinc supplements (in the form of zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate) can improve acne [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11586012/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2575335/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/82356/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6163281/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/137693/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/146511/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20666829/"><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;">An antibiotic ointment containing zinc reduced inflammation and improved acne in several trials [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2138180/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2533878?dopt=Abstract"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8751022/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17309451/"><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;">Co-supplementation of zinc and magnesium was suggested to reduce inflammation via lowered levels of IL-1&alpha;, in a randomized controlled trial focused on women with polycystic ovarian syndrome [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29127547/"><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;">Zinc supplements are likely safe, in doses that do not exceed the upper limit of 40 mg per day (for adults). Taking too much zinc can cause stomach pain and gut irritation [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2407097/"><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;">Zinc supplements may improve acne by decreasing production of IL-1&alpha; and lowering inflammation. </span></p>
392 | content_snp_table_5390721840071024_key == 5390721840071024
392 | content_snp_table_5390721840071024_blur == True
392 | content_snp_table_5390721840071024_hidden == False
392 | content_learn_more_1795636625291001_key == 1795636625291001
392 | content_learn_more_1795636625291001_blur == True
392 | content_learn_more_1795636625291001_hidden == False
392 | content_learn_more_1795636625291001_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your IL1A 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. Light therapy, exfoliation, and zinc supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
392 | content_recommendation_5428641554084437_key == 5428641554084437
392 | content_recommendation_5428641554084437_blur == True
392 | content_recommendation_5428641554084437_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs17561,rs1800587
rsStatus = rs17561,IL1A,chr2,112779646,C,A,,,30,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1800587,IL1A,chr2,112785383,G,A,C,T,37,0,Normal
