Acne sufferers 'likely to live longer'

Spotty teenagers may have the last laugh over their peers with perfect skin after research found that those who suffer from acne are likely to live longer.

Their cells have a built-in protection against ageing which is likely to make them look better in later life, a study has found.

By the time she reaches middle age, the spotty girl who could never find a boyfriend could be attracting envious glances from her grey and wrinkly peers.

For many years dermatologists have identified that the skin of acne sufferers appears to age more slowly than in those who have not had acne.

Experts had already noted that signs of ageing, such as wrinkles and thinning skin, often appear much later in people who hadacne.

Scientists believe they may have discovered why.

A study of white blood cells taken from individuals affected by spots showed they had longer protective caps on the ends of their chromosomes.

Called telomeres, the caps help prevent the chromosomes, packages of DNA, deteriorating and fusing during cell division.

Telomeres shrink over time and are closely linked to biological ageing - people with long telomeres age more slowly than people with short ones.

The research shows that acne sufferers tend to have significantly longer telomeres and may be blessed with the gift of long-lasting youthfulness.

Lead researcher Simone Ribero, from King's College London, said: "For many years dermatologists have identified that the skin of acne sufferers appears to age more slowly than in those who have not experienced any acne.

"Our findings suggest that the cause could be linked to the length of telomeres which appears to be different in acne sufferers and means their cells may be protected against ageing."