Many years ago, two dermatologist named H. Stokes and Donald M. Pillsbury presented a mechanism to explain the pathophysiology of acne as the gut-brain-skin axis. In 2008 Hang Zhang In a study of 13,215 adolescents, represented gastrointestinal symptoms such as halitosis, gastric reflux, abdominal bloating and constipation in patients with sebaceous gland diseases such as acne, are more common than in healthy controls. He also noted that gastrointestinal dysfunction is an important risk factor for diseases of the sebaceous glands and is associated with their occurrence and progression. In a study conducted in 2014 by H. Ismaeili, a strong correlation between gastrointestinal dysfunction including bloating and constipation, and acne severity, was mentioned.
In this cross sectional, case-control study, we sought to evaluate the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms in acne patients compared with healthy individuals. In this study, 221 person including 112 patients and 109 healthy for any skin disorder and acne disease, all referred to the dermatology department of Bu-Ali hospital in the city of Qazvin were randomly participated over a one year period (2014-2015) .The frequency of the severity of gastrointestinal disorders in patients were compared with controls. The relationship between the severity of acne in patients with severity of gastrointestinal disorders, and factors such as gender, age, education and marital status were examined. The two groups were matched for their member’s age, sex, education and marital status.
In people with acne, severity of the gastrointestinal tract disorders, including “gastric dysfunction”, “GI inflammation”, “ Small intestine and pancreas disorder “ and “colon disorder” is higher compared to healthy controls (p value amounts are respectively 0.03, 0.02, 0.01 and 0.04).There is a direct correlation between severity of acne and severity of gastrointestinal disorders, including “gastric dysfunction”, “GI inflammation” and “colon disorder”(p value amounts are respectively 0.02, 0.01 and 0.03). In addition, the acne disease is more severe in women than men (p= 0.03); moreover “GI inflammation” and “colon disorder” in women with acne is more severe than men with acne (p value levels are 0.001 and 0.007 respectively). Also in patients with acne, severity of the “Small intestine and pancreas disorder” increases with age (P=0.009).