How Your DNA Influences Your Skin Health
Skin dryness, sensitivity, sun damage, and visible signs of aging are influenced in part by your genes. MyHeritage DNA 360° reveals these genetic tendencies, helping you better understand what may affect your skin now and over time.
What your DNA results can help you do
Your genes can influence how your skin looks, feels, and responds to the environment. Your results can help you better understand its individual needs.
Understand your skin’s sensitivities
Explore genetic tendencies related to acne, eczema, rosacea, rashes, and other skin concerns.
Make more informed skincare choices
Learn about factors that may affect your skin’s hydration, elasticity, and tendency toward dryness, helping you choose a routine that better suits your skin.
Protect your skin as it ages
Discover how your genes may influence sun sensitivity, sunburn, wrinkles, age spots, and other changes over time.
Explore skin health reports
Explore skin health reports
Reports include:
Acne
Age spots
Dry skin
Eczema
Facial wrinkles
Hives
Rosacea
Skin elasticity
Skin hydration
Skin rash (allergic)
Skin rash (irritant)
Stretch marks
Sun sensitivity
Sunburn
Vitiligo
Acne
Acne is a common skin condition easily recognized by the pimples that appear on the face and back. Pimples are caused by blocked hair follicles.
Athlete's Foot
Symptoms of athlete's foot include itching, stinging, and burning sensations between the toes or on soles of the feet. The skin may also flake, peel, and crack, sometimes leading to pain, swelling, and blisters.
Burns
The consequences of burns extend beyond the immediate physical damage. Serious burns can lead to complications such as infections, dehydration, and hypothermia, due to the skin's role in regulating body temperature and fluid balance.
Droopy Eyelids
Eyelid drooping is excess sagging of the upper eyelid. The eyelid may be sitting lower than it should (ptosis) or drooping due to loose or excess skin (dermatochalasis).
Eczema
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition. It causes dry skin and itchy red rashes, usually on the elbow creases, neck, and back of the knees.
Glycation
A genetic study identified five variants (SNPs) associated with skin autofluorescence in non-diabetic individuals. These SNPs are located in or near genes such as FANCA, MMP27, CYP1A1/2, ZNF276, and NAT2, each with distinct potential roles in glycation mechanisms.
Hair Loss
Androgenetic alopecia is a common type of hair loss. You may know it as male- or female-pattern baldness.
Hives
Hives are red, swollen, and itchy bumps that appear on the skin. While hives usually do not last very long, some people can develop chronic hives.
Itch
The mechanisms behind itch can vary. Some itches are caused by histamines released during an immune response and can be relieved by antihistamines, while others are related to more complex pathways, involving neuropeptides and other neurotransmitters.
Lichen Planus
Individuals with a family history of the condition appear to be at a higher risk, suggesting a potential genetic predisposition. Some studies have indicated certain genetic markers linked to lichen planus, particularly involved in immune system regulation.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells. In response, skin cells begin to grow much more rapidly than normal.
Ringworm
While ringworm is primarily contracted through exposure to the fungal pathogens, there might be genetic factors that influence an individual's susceptibility to fungal infections. Some individuals may have a genetic makeup that makes their skin more prone to fungal growth or affects their immune response to fungal pathogens.
Skin Elasticity
Skin elasticity is the ability of it to stretch and then return to its original form. Losing elasticity is a natural part of the aging process, creating loose skin and wrinkles.
Skin Rash (Allergic)
Identifying and avoiding contact with the allergen is the most effective strategy to manage allergic contact dermatitis.
Staph Infection
Genetic variations in immunity genes may slightly increase the susceptibility to staph infection or its complications. However, factors other than genetics seem to play a much bigger role.
Sun Sensitivity
Specific gene variants can increase the risk of sunburn or the development of sun-sensitive skin conditions. Additionally, genetically determined skin types, which vary in their melanin content, can influence how easily someone burns or tans in the sun.
Warts
The experience of having warts can range from being an unsightly nuisance to causing discomfort or pain, depending on their location and size. For instance, plantar warts located on the soles of the feet can become painful with the pressure exerted during walking.
Age Spots
Solar lentigines, also known as age spots, sun spots, or liver spots, are dark, harmless spots on the skin. They are caused by increased production of melanin, the skin pigment.
Blisters
Genetics can play a role in susceptibility to certain skin conditions that manifest with blistering. For instance, a genetic predisposition might make some individuals more susceptible to specific infections or skin reactions that can result in blisters.
Dandruff
Dandruff is a common inflammatory skin condition that mainly affects the scalp. It causes flaking skin and sometimes mild itchiness.
Dry Skin
Managing xerosis involves a multi-faceted approach, primarily focused on restoring the skin's moisture balance and protecting it from further dehydration. This often includes using emollients and moisturizers that lock in moisture and applying them immediately after a bath or a shower when the skin is still damp.
Facial Wrinkles
Wrinkles are small but visible folds in the skin. Wrinkles appear with age and develop over several decades.
Hair Graying
Hair color is determined by the amount and type of pigment called melanin in your hair follicles. Graying happens with the loss of this melanin, which is a natural effect of aging.
Heavy Sweating
Hyperhidrosis is the scientific term for heavy sweating. It's normal to sweat a lot because of exercise, heat, or stress.
Impetigo (School Sores)
Effective treatment for impetigo usually involves local topical antibiotics to combat the bacterial infection and, in more severe cases, could require oral antibiotics. To prevent spreading the infection, good hygiene practices such as hand washing, regular bath or showers, and not sharing personal items are crucial.
Leg Cellulitis
Treatment of leg cellulitis usually involves antibiotics to combat the bacterial infection and may require hospitalization if symptoms are severe or the patient has underlying health conditions. Rest, elevation of the affected limb, and wound care are also key to managing the condition and preventing complications such as sepsis or the spread of infection to deeper tissues.
Pink Eye
While pink eye itself isn't directly linked to genetics, one's susceptibility to allergic reactions or certain infections can have a genetic component. For instance, if allergic diseases run in the family (like hay fever, asthma, or eczema), an individual might be more predisposed to allergic conjunctivitis.
Response to Blood Flow Boosters (Hair Loss)
The ACE gene encodes an enzyme called angiotensin I converting enzyme. ACE narrows blood vessels and increases blood pressure as part of the fight or flight response.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes face redness. It mostly affects the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin.
Skin Hydration
The skin acts as a barrier to protect you from your surroundings. One of the main functions of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) is to keep your skin hydrated by retaining water.
Skin Rash (Irritant)
Management of contact dermatitis primarily involves identifying and avoiding the substance responsible for the reaction. Patch testing can help determine the specific allergens that a person is reacting to in cases of allergic contact dermatitis.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are a type of scarring typically caused by our skin stretching or shrinking too quickly.
Sunburn
Severe sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
Explore all 33 reports
Personalized recommendations for enhancing skin health
Your reports include practical recommendations to help you care for and protect your skin. Depending on your results, these may include:
Sun protection habits, especially if your results show higher sun sensitivity or skin cancer risk
Lifestyle choices that support healthy-looking skin, such as not smoking, quality sleep, and a balanced diet
Moisturizing and gentle skincare habits that support your skin’s barrier
Common triggers to avoid if your skin is prone to eczema, irritation, or rashes
Skin changes to monitor and concerns to discuss with your healthcare provider
Sample reports image
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