Scientists at King’s College London report that people who have previously suffered from acne have longer telomeres in their white blood cells compared to those with perfect skin. These telomeres ? sometimes referred to as protective caps ? help keep chromosomes from deteriorating. As a result, cells are better insulated against aging.

The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, measured the length of white blood cell telomeres in 1,205 twins from the TwinsUK cohort. A quarter of the twins reported having experienced acne in their lifetime.