Precipitating Factors of Acne Vulgaris in Females at Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common disease in teenagers.
It is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous units.
Objective: To see the effect of different factors like age, skin type,
diet, cosmetics, family history and pornographic material on acne.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted in the
Dermatology Department of Nangarhar University Teaching
Hospital, Nangarhar from August 2021 to March 2021. The
study consisted on a sample of 120 subjects including 60 cases
of acne and 60 controls. The data was entered in a structured
close-ended questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic
regression was used to see the effect of different factors on acne.
Results: Age was below 20 years in 68 percent of patients and
38 percent of controls. Amongst patients 12% and amongst
controls 7% were married. Logistic regression analysis showed
that age (p = 0.001), odds ratio (0.288), Confidence interval (0.136
– 0.612) siblings history (p = 0.007), odds ratio (2.786), confidence
interval (1.329–5.841), skin type (p = 0.000), dry skin (p = 0.173),
odds ratio (0.449), confidence interval (0.142-1.422), oily skin (p
= 0.002), odds ratio (3.925), confidence interval (1.684 9.146),
cola drinks (p=0.048), daily drinks (p = 0.023), odds ratio (2.975),
confidence interval (1.159-7.636), cosmetic used (p=0.004), odds
ratio (4.219), confidence interval (1.577–11.285) and frequency of
application of cosmetics (p=0.010), odds ratio (3.509), confidence
interval (1.347–9.1)had significant effect on acne.
Conclusion: Acne is a more common disease in teenagers;
age greater than twenty plays a protective role against acne.
Carbonated drinks, positive sibling history, cosmetic treatment
and frequent use of cosmetics have a significant relationship with
acne. It is more common in oily skin than dry and normal skin.