Relationship of Whole Blood Zinc Levels to Acne Severity Among Filipinos 18-25 Years Old: A Cross-sectional Comparative Study

Acne Vulgaris is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit characterized by formation of comedones, papules, pustules, inflamed nodules, and cysts.1 Most common predilection sites are those with hormonally sensitive sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, upper back and upper arms. Acne can persist for years and result in disfigurement and permanent scarring. It can cause serious adverse effects on psychosocial development, resulting in emotional problems, withdrawal from society, and depression. Nearly all adolescents experience different severity levels of acne vulgaris, with moderate to severe levels affecting around 20% of this population. In the Philippines, high school students were found to have a mild impairment of quality of life (QOL) due to acne, regardless of severity. Despite the known treatment regimens for acne, people are still suffering from the effects of the disease.

Acne has four main pathogenic contributors: follicular hyperkeratinization, increased sebum production, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) within the follicle, and inflammation. Reports show that antibiotic resistance is a growing issue in the treatment regimen of acne vulgaris, making it less and less suitable for long-term treatment. Other options that can be substitutes or adjuncts to treatment may be useful in this condition.

Zinc is an essential element for normal epithelial differentiation and for normal development. It has also been shown to have antioxidant properties. At present, there is paucity of data regarding the role of zinc levels in the development or severity of acne vulgaris. Also, data on favorable effects of dietary factors such as zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamin A, and dietary fiber on acne vulgaris are limited specially in the Philippines.

This study will be conducted to measure the whole blood zinc levels in patients with acne vulgaris and compare it with healthy controls. This aims to determine the relationship between whole blood zinc levels and disease severity in Filipino patients with acne vulgaris in order to bring new insight to guide further studies regarding zinc's role in the pathogenesis and possible further treatment of acne vulgaris in the Philippines.

Significance of the Study: