Adult Acne: A Clinical Study With Special Reference to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Background: According to Global Burden of Skin Disease study data, 2013, Acne affects nearly 85% of adolescents and young adults in the age group 12-25 years.1 traditionally it was considered to be a transitory disease of teenagers and young adults; however recent study reports indicate it to be a disease affecting all age groups in adults.
 Aims: To study the clinical profile of adult acne, grade the severity using global acne grading system (GAGS) and to determine the proportion of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in women with adult acne.
 Material and Methods: Patients with acne in the age group of 25-60 years were included in the study. A detailed examination of clinical profile of acne was done along with grading of severity of acne using GAGS. Also, documentation of hyperandrogenism using Ferriman Gallwey score for hirsutism and diagnosis of PCOS using Rotterdam criteria was done in all female patients of acne.
 Results: A total of 105 patients were included in the study. Among these, 82.9% were women and 17.1% were men. The mean age of the patients was 28.04±3.60 years. Persistent acne was observed in 85.7%, while late onset in 14.3%. Most common site of involvement was cheek (98%), followed by chin (76%), and forehead (64.7%). Mild grade acne was observed in 93.3% patients. Hyperpigmentation was seen in 78.1% while scarring was observed in 52.4% patients. A total of 8% female patients had PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria.
 Conclusion: We found a predominance of females and persistent acne. Although the prevalence of PCOS was low in adult female acne patients, they were affected by more severe grades of acne and risk of hyperpigmentation and scarring was higher as compared to non-PCOS patients.