Genetic Insights Into Acne, Androgenetic Alopecia, And Alopecia Areata: Implications For Mechanisms And Precision Dermatology

The review highlights the genetic underpinnings of acne, androgenetic alopecia (AGA), and alopecia areata (AA), emphasizing the potential for precision dermatology. Large genome-wide association studies have identified key genetic loci and pathways, such as immune-regulatory loci and interferon-γ/JAK–STAT signaling in AA, androgen receptor variations and WNT/TGF-β regulators in AGA, and an immune–morphogenesis–lipid triad in acne. These insights suggest that genetics can guide personalized treatments, including JAK inhibitors for AA, endocrine and morphogenesis-targeted strategies for AGA, and lipid- and barrier-directed therapies for acne. The findings underscore the convergence of immune, barrier, and morphogenetic pathways across these conditions, offering a framework for tailored interventions. Despite promising opportunities, limitations include incomplete variance explanation by GWAS and the need for further validation to integrate genetic insights into clinical practice.