Relationship between body mass index z-score and acne severity in adolescents: a prospective analysis

Bahar Öztelcan Gündüz; Hatice Ataş

doi:10.5114/ada.2023.133468

Relationship between body mass index z-score and acne severity in adolescents: a prospective analysis

Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2023 Dec;40(6):808-813. doi: 10.5114/ada.2023.133468. Epub 2024 Jan 8.

Authors

Bahar Öztelcan Gündüz¹, Hatice Ataş²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics and Gülhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
² Department of Dermatology, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Diskapi Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin disorder influenced by a variety of factors, including a high body mass index (BMI) and obesity.

Aim: To investigate the association between BMI z-scores and acne severity in boys and girls aged 10-18 years.

Material and methods: A 72-patient prospective analysis was performed, in which patient weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body mass index z score (BMI z-score), percentiles, and demographic information were collected, and acne severity was categorized as mild or moderate/severe.

Results: The results indicated that patients with moderate/severe acne were significantly older and had higher weight, height, BMI, and BMI z-scores than those with mild acne (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that higher BMI z-scores are linked to increased acne severity. These results emphasize the importance of addressing weight-related risk factors for the prevention and treatment of acne vulgaris. The early detection and management of weight-related conditions can play a crucial role in improving the overall well-being of individuals with acne, considering its negative impact on mental health and social functioning.

Keywords: acne vulgaris; body mass index; obesity; overweight.