Precipitating Factors of Acne Vulgaris in Females at Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common disease in teenagers.It is a chronic inflammatory condition of the pilosebaceous units.Objective: To see the effect of different factors like age, skin type,diet, cosmetics, family history and pornographic material on acne.Methods: This case-control study was conducted in theDermatology Department of Nangarhar University TeachingHospital, Nangarhar from August 2021 to March 2021. Thestudy consisted on a sample of 120 subjects including 60 casesof acne and 60 controls. The data was entered in a structuredclose-ended questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logisticregression was used to see the effect of different factors on acne.Results: Age was below 20 years in 68 percent of patients and38 percent of controls. Amongst patients 12% and amongstcontrols 7% were married. Logistic regression analysis showedthat age (p = 0.001), odds ratio (0.288), Confidence interval (0.136– 0.612) siblings history (p = 0.007), odds ratio (2.786), confidenceinterval (1.329–5.841), skin type (p = 0.000), dry skin (p = 0.173),odds ratio (0.449), confidence interval (0.142-1.422), oily skin (p= 0.002), odds ratio (3.925), confidence interval (1.684 9.146),cola drinks (p=0.048), daily drinks (p = 0.023), odds ratio (2.975),confidence interval (1.159-7.636), cosmetic used (p=0.004), oddsratio (4.219), confidence interval (1.577–11.285) and frequency ofapplication of cosmetics (p=0.010), odds ratio (3.509), confidenceinterval (1.347–9.1)had significant effect on acne.Conclusion: Acne is a more common disease in teenagers;age greater than twenty plays a protective role against acne.Carbonated drinks, positive sibling history, cosmetic treatmentand frequent use of cosmetics have a significant relationship withacne. It is more common in oily skin than dry and normal skin.