Study on Gender Differences in Acne Vulgaris Associated with Insulin Resistance:A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract Objective The present study investigated the clinical characteristics and gender differences of acne vulgaris associated with insulin resistance (IR).Methods The present study was conducted in 100 patients, comprising 52 males and 48 females, having acne vulgaris. Of the total, 18 male patients and 9 female patients exhibited IR, whereas 34 male patients and 39 female patients exhibited non-IR (NIR). The height, weight, acne grade, sex hormone, lipid metabolism, plasma glucose, and insulin levels of all the patients were measured and statistically analyzed.Results In the male group, the body mass index of the group with IR was significantly higher than that of the group with NIR (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the sex hormones and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) between female patients having acne associated with IR and those having acne associated with NIR. Levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in male patients having acne associated with IR were lower than those in patients having acne associated with NIR, whereas the estrogen and IGF-1 levels in male patients with acne in the IR group were higher than those in the NIR group. Significant differences were observed in the fasting plasma glucose and fasting and 2-h postprandial plasma insulin levels between male and female groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion Disorders of sex hormone in male patients with acne vulgaris are related to IR; however, this correlation is not significant in women. Levels of sex hormones and metabolism in male patients having acne associated with IR must be actively monitored, and appropriate intervention must be administered.