Morphological and biochemical evaluation of blood in young women with common acne – preliminary report

Abstract

Introduction: Acne is one of the most common skin diseases, defined as a chronic, inflammatory disease of the sebaceous gland and hair follicle. It is most common in young people, although the lesions may persist even up to 30 – 40 years of age. It is characterized clinically by the presence of non-inflammatory and inflammatory eruptions (papules and pustules) and usually with increased production of sebum. The reasons for the appearance of acne include hormonal disorders, obesity, stress, diet, environmental and genetic factors, cosmetic substances, and medications. Patients with acne exhibit an overreaction of the immune system and an excessively intense inflammatory response. The aim of the study is to evaluate selected biochemical and blood count parameters in young women with acne vulgaris. Material and methods: The study was conducted on 20 students of the Academy of Physical Education, aged 20 – 26, including 10 women with mild acne vulgaris and 10 women without acne symptoms. All women underwent complete blood counts (CBC) with the division of leukocytes into subpopulations (5 DIFF) and biochemical tests in blood serum (lipid profile, liver function tests, concentration of total protein and its electrophoretic fractions, CRP). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the group of women with acne compared to the control group in terms of the assessed serum biochemical parameters. Women with mild acne vulgaris had a significantly lower number of erythrocytes, higher MCV, and a lower percentage of monocytes, with no significant differences in other blood count parameters. The percentage of neutrophils tended to be higher in the group of women with acne vulgaris. Conclusions: 1. Inflammation accompanying mild acne vulgaris may change the number of monocytes and neutrophils in blood counts. 2. The lower number of red blood cells in women with symptoms of acne vulgaris may be the result of chronic inflammation.