A prospective study of correlation between hormonal profile and acne vulgaris in adult patients

Introduction: Although various studies has been conducted regarding pathogenesis of acne vulgaris and proved it to be multi factorial, but there is strong association between acne vulgaris and hormone profile of patients. Present study has been designed to document and access the correlation between hormone profile and acne vulgeris, with a primary aim to know the hormonal profile of acne vulgaris patient and correlate the hormone level with acne vulgaris patients. Materials and Methods: This study is prospective randomized case control study conducted in the dept. of dermatology venereology and leprology Konaseema institute of medical science Amalapuram Andhra Pradesh from August 2015 to April 2018. In present study 80 clinically diagnosed, acne vulgeris patients were randomly selected for this study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Another 80 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were taken as control group who are free from acne. Result: Mean serum concentration of testosterone was 83.54+28.31ng/dl in cases, but in control group mean serum concentration was 48.89+38.79 ng/dl, with P value 0.00001. Mean of serum DHEAS concentration was 265.79+53.48, mcg/dl in patients but in healthy volunteers it was 211.48+36.11 mcg/dl, with P value 0.00012. Serum insulin level in acne patients were (mean+SD) 7.163+ 1.843, mIU/L but in control group it was 5.48 +1.24 mIU/L with P value 0.0019. Mean concentration of serum glucocorticoid was 14.63+3.24mcg/dl in cases but in control it was 13.42+4.94 mcg/dl having P value 0.89. Serum IGF-1 mean value was 272.62+62.32 ng/ml in cases, and 246.76+70.32ng/ml in control with P value 0.074. Serum ACTH concentration was 39.66+ 4.24pg/ml in cases (mean +SD) but in control 33.60+ 9.92pg/ml with P value 0.0035. Discussion and Conclusion: Serum concentration of testosterone, DHEAS, ACTH and IGF-1 level was higher in acne vulgeris cases then control which indicate a correlation between these hormone and acne vulgeris. Increase in serum level of insulin and HOMA-IR value suggests an insulin resistance state in acne vulgeris. We have also found a correlation between PCOS and acne vulgeris.