Clinical profile of acne vulgaris: an observational study from a tertiary care institution in Northern Kerala, India

Abstract

Background: Acne is one of the most common disease affecting adolescence. Although prior studies have evaluated epidemiologic patterns of acne in different ethnicities and regions, literature is lacking from this part of the country. The objectives of the study were to delineate the clinical and epidemiological profile of acne vulgaris in a population from northern Kerala in South India. Methods: The study was carried out for 6 months and it included 100 patients. Epidemiology including pattern, aggravating factors, seasonal variation, diet, smoking, markers of androgenecity and associations were evaluated in all newly diagnosed cases of acne vulgaris who attended the outpatient department in Kannur Medical College, Kannur, Kerala, India from January 2018 to June 2018. Results: Out of 100 patients females (74%) outnumbered males (26%) and although the majority affected belonged to the age group of 21-25 years (38%), adult acne was observed in 28%. Grade 3 acne was the commonest (44%), followed by grade 2 (30%) and grade 4 (18%). Face was affected in all patients with cheeks (91%), followed by forehead (72%), mandible (36%) and chin (28%) and trunk (23%). Scarring was found in 34% and pigmentation in 40%. Family history of acne was observed in 33%. Conclusions: This study brings out the clinical profile of acne in a tertiary care hospital in South India.