inflammation & autoimmunity

skin & beauty

IL6

Can an Inflammatory Protein Induce Acne? (IL6)

Written by Shany Lahan, MS (Neuroscience) on October 8th, 2020

IL-6 can activate parts of the immune system in order to promote inflammation. A variant of IL6 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.

Summary

IL-6 is a protein that can promote inflammation by activating cells of the immune system. A variant of IL6 may play a role in acne by increasing IL-6 production. Supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by decreasing production of IL-6 and lowering inflammation.

IL6 and Acne

IL-6 is an immune system messenger (cytokine) that can activate different parts of the immune system and induce inflammation [R].

Increased levels of IL-6 have been observed in individuals with acne. These individuals often produce an oily substance called sebum in excess [R, R].

Sebum provides an ideal living and growth environment for the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes, which has been shown to stimulate the release of IL-6 and subsequently promote inflammation and acne development [R, R].

The rs1800796-C variant of IL6 has been associated with increased risk of acne. Carriers of this variant may produce a greater amount of IL-6 than rs1800796-G carriers [R].

Similar to the effects of Cutibacterium acnes, an increased amount of IL-6 may heighten inflammatory responses within skin pores and in turn, promote the formation of acne [R].

Your IL6 Results for Acne

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs1800796

Primary SNP: IL6 rs1800796

‘C’ = Increased risk of acne
‘G’ = Decreased risk of acne

Recommendations

Supplements

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance.

In a randomized controlled trial, a 5% NAC gel applied to the skin (topical) helped reduce mild-to-moderate acne [R].

In another trial, NAC supplements taken daily for 8 weeks improved acne by 50% [R].

NAC has been found to reduce levels of IL-6 in multiple studies [R, R, R].

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplements may improve acne by reducing levels of IL-6 and lowering inflammation.

Zinc

Research shows that people with low levels of the mineral zinc are more likely to develop severe forms of acne [R, R].

A number of small clinical trials suggest that taking zinc supplements (in the form of zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate) can improve acne [R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

An antibiotic ointment containing zinc reduced inflammation and improved acne in several trials [R, R, R, R].

In cells, treatment with zinc was found to reduce levels of IL-6 [R].

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 [R, R].

Zinc supplements may improve acne by reducing levels of IL-6 and lowering inflammation.

Probiotics

In a small clinical trial, a probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, and Bifidobacterium bifidum significantly improved acne [R].

In another trial, a Saccharomyces boulardii strain called CBS 5926 improved the appearance of acne in 5 months [R].

Saccharomyces boulardii has been found to decrease levels of IL-6 and reduce inflammation in human cells [R].

Probiotic supplements may improve acne by reducing levels of IL-6 and lowering inflammation.

Shany Lahan

MS (Neuroscience)

Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.

Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer’s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing – as well as help them understand the science behind it all.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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