Cutaneous disorders related to obesity

Abstract

ObjectiveTo describe the pattern of cutaneous diseases among obese patients.BackgroundObesity is a medical condition in which excess fat has accumulated to the extent that may have an adverse effect on health leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems. Obesity results in changes in skin barrier function, sebaceous gland, apocrine and eccrine sweat glands, function, and wound healing.Patients and methodsThis study was done on 212 Egyptian obese patients visiting the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University from November 2020 to March 2021.ResultsIn the present study, there was a statistically highly significant difference between females and males regarding acne (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between females and males regarding androgenic alopecia, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis (P < 0.05). There was a statistically nonsignificant difference between females and males regarding acanthosis nigricans, skin tags, hidradenitis suppurativa, seborrheic dermatitis, plantar hyperkeratosis, and stretch marks (P > 0.05). Stretch marks were found in 81.6% of females and 87.7% of males. Androgenic alopecia was found in 56.5% of females and 33.9% of males. Acanthosis nigricans was found in 30.6% of females and 44.6% of males. Acne was found in 30.6% of females and 6.2% of males. Of the studied group, 19.8 and 12.3% complained of intertrigo and erythrasma and 10.4% of the studied group complained of delayed wound healing by hospitalization.ConclusionThe results suggest that obesity seems to have numerous complications that affect the skin as it leads to many cutaneous diseases in this sample of Egyptian people.