A STUDY OF CLINICAL PATTERN OF ACNE VULGARIS PATIENTS PRESENTING IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical pattern of acne vulgaris in patients attending a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This hospital-based observational study was conducted from September 2021 to March 2022. A total of 203 consecutive patients with acne vulgaris attending dermatology OPD were included. Pregnant and lactating women, drug-induced acne, and other acneiform eruptions were excluded. Data were collected in a pre-designed proforma. The parameters included were age, gender, age of onset, duration, sites of involvement, acne grade, types of lesions, menstrual history, and post-acne complications. Results were expressed in percentages. MS Excel software was used for data entry and analysis. Results: Two hundred and three cases were included, among which 61.6% were female and 38.4% were male. The commonest age group affected was 21-25 y (37.9%) followed by 16-20 y (31.5%). The commonest site of involvement in acne was the face (86.2%) followed by the trunk (9.4%). Arms (2.5%) and the neck (1.9%) were less affected areas. The majority of patients had Grade 2 (53.7%) acne, followed by Grade 3 (21.8%) and Grade 1 (20.7%) and Grade 4 (3.9%). Persistence of acne in females till late age was observed. Post-acne hyperpigmentation 98 (48.3%) and scarring 46 (22.7%) were most common complications. Premenstrual flare was seen in 36 (17.7%) patients. The commonly associated disease with acne is seborrheic dermatitis, observed in 28 (13.8%) patients. Conclusion: This study revealed the clinical pattern of acne vulgaris in a tertiary care hospital in Assam.