EVALUATING THE ROLE OF BMI AND SERUM LIPID PROFILE IN ADOLESCENT ACNE

Introduction: Acne is one of the most common skin disease of pilosebaceous unit that affects adolescents mainly. The pathogenesis is multifactorial. High glycemic food, milk and dairy products, sedentary lifestyle lead to high BMI and deranged lipid profile. These ultimately converge on MTORC1 activation leading to acnegenesis. There are few Indian studies correlating the acne with BMI and lipid levels. Aim: To evaluate the BMI and lipid levels of adolescent acne vulgaris patients and compare it with controls. Method: 100 cases of acne vulgaris and age and sex matched controls were included in the study. Their BMI was calculated and fasting lipid profile was measured. Results: Mean BMI was higher among cases than control. The lipid levels were deranged (high serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride, LDL and low HDL) more among cases than control. All the outcomes were statistically significant. Conclusion: Dermatologists should also focus on improving the dietary and lifestyle in their acne patients rather than just treating the disease per se.