Prevalence of atopic dermatitis in patients with acne vulgaris

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is caused by an inflammatory process stimulated by Th2 cells. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. It is associated with an increase in sebum secretion, unusual pilosebaceous keratinization and an increased inflammatory immune response. Propionibacterium acne can induce IL-17 production and Th1/Th17 response. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in patients with acne.

In this case-control study, the case group consisted of 75 individuals with acne and the control group consisted of 75 individuals without acne matched in age and gender. Both groups were interviewed for atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms in the past and present. 

Prevalence of atopic dermatitis at present in patients who had acne was significantly lower than those who did not have acne. There was no significant difference between case and control groups in frequency of atopic dermatitis in the past and frequency of asthma and allergic rhinitis in the present and past time.

The inverse relationship between prevalence of acne and atopic dermatitis can be related to activation of different immune responses (Th1 versus Th2), but more studies should be done to confirm this relationship.