A Study of Changes in Lipid Profile in Obese and Non-obese Females with Acne Vulgaris

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological condition and is known to be caused by many factors. Presence of obesity causes a number of changes in the skin barrier function as well as in lipid profile. Aims & Objective: The objective of this study is to find out the relevance of lipids and lipoproteins levels in obese and non-obese acne patients and compare it with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: 50 obese female subjects with acne (Group-A) along with 50 non-obese female subjects with acne (Group-B) were assessed for BMI (Body Mass Index), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). The results were compared with age matched healthy females who served as controls (Group-C). Results: Highly significant elevations were observed in the values of BMI, TC, TG and LDL in both Group-A & Group-B as compared to group-C (p<0.001). The elevations were more in Group-A as compared to Group-B. The levels of HDL were lower in Group-A and Group-B as compared to Group-C. These parameters were lower in Group-A than in Group-B. Conclusion: Acne vulgaris is definitely associated with changes in lipid profile which are more marked in obese individuals (BMI>27kg/m2 and waist-hip ratio>0.8).The reduction in body weight need to be taken care of while treating acne patients.