Association of Vitamin D with moderate to severe acne vulgaris

Objective: To determine the association of vitamin D deficiency in moderate to severe acne. Study Design: A comparative study. Place and Duration of the Study: Dermatology OPD at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2021 to May 2022. Methodology: Fifty patients with moderate acne, 50 patients with severe acne, and 50 healthy controls were inducted. Information regarding age, gender, and medical and medication history were taken. The severity of acne was rated according to the GAGS (global acne grading system) score. Levels of 25(OH) D were classified as sufficient (>20 ng/mL), insufficient (12–20 ng/mL), or deficient (<12 ng/mL). Significance was taken at p-value <0.05. Results: The median concentration of vitamin D levels was 7.09 ng/ml in severe acne vulgaris, 13.7 ng/ml in moderate acne vulgaris and 21.6ng/ml in the control group. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower (p<0.001) in individuals with acne vulgaris as compared to the healthy controls. However, the decrease in level of vitamin D did not correspond with the severity of acne vulgaris. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is additionally pronounced in acne vulgaris individuals, but vitamin D levels are not proportional to the severity of acne vulgaris. (author)