A study examining Trigger factors and hormonal abnormalities in adult female acne.

Background: Acne affects an increasing number of adult females, impairing quality of life, with significant negative psychological effect and social impact. Adult female acne (AFA) is defined as one that affects women over the age of 25 and may persist continuously or intermittently from adolescence or manifest for the first time in this period. It is believed that genetic and hormonal factors contribute to the pathogenesis of AFA, characterized by chronic evolution, requiring maintenance treatment, in some cases for years. The etiopathogenesis of acne vulgaris involves a complex interaction between the main factors such as: genetic predisposition; androgenic hormone stimulation leading to an increase in sebaceous secretion; alteration of the lipid composition; follicular hyperkeratinization; bacterial colonization mainly by Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) and periglandular dermal inflammation. Materials and methods: Patients having acne of age =25 years were analyzed using a pre devised proforma to elicit trigger factors while the severity was graded using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). A detailed hormonal assessment was undertaken that assessed total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index (FAI), AMH, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin. Result: This research involves 90 students as the sample. The profile of the samples that contain average age, gender, degree of acne vulgaris, father genetic history, and mother genetic history. Statistical analysis of the father's genetic history results in a p-valuel3t of 0.001, which means that the father's genetic history was significantly related (p<0.05) to the degree of acne vulgaris. While analysis between ages results with a p-value of 0.795, age was not related (p>0.05) to the degree of acne vulgaris. Topical steroid use was found to be an important factor responsible for aggravation of acne in our study population. The objective assessment implicated the role of diet in 14.4% of patients with the common foods being "oily "and dairy products. Conclusion: Adult female acne may be triggered by diet, stress, and cosmetics and there is a distinct hormonal milieu that accounts for hyperandrogenemia. We noted high levels of adrenal androgens which have been known to be associated with stress and sleep deprivation. Our study shows the value of counseling adult female acne patients about various acne triggers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]