CLINICAL FEATURES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF ACNE VULGARIS PATIENTS AT VIET TIEP FRIENDSHIP HOSPITAL IN 2025

Pham Thi Thanh Hoa1, Nguyen Thi Xuan Huong1, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thanh Huyen1,2, Dang Tuan Anh3
1 Department of Dermatology, Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital
2 Department of Dermatology, Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy
3 Faculty of Dentistry, Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and evaluate several related factors in acne patients.
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on 106 patients who presented for examination and were diagnosed with acne at the Department of Dermatology, Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital, from January 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025. Results: The prevalence was higher in females (56.7%) than in males (43.3%). The mean patient age was 20.9 ± 6.6 years, with patients over 20 years old accounting for a higher proportion (71.7%) compared to those ≤ 20 years old (28.3%). Combination skin was the most common skin type (38.6%), followed by oily skin (27.4%), normal skin (17.9%), dry skin (11.4%), and sensitive skin (4.7%). The most prevalent lesion type was papules (87.7%), followed by pustules (50.9%), comedones (46.2%), and nodules/cysts (2.8%). According to the GAGS (Global Acne Grading System) classification, the most frequently involved areas were Zone I (69.8%), Zone III (59.4%), Zone 4 (53.7%), Zone 5 (51.8%), Zone II (51.4%), and Zone VI (29.3%). Moderate acne was the most common severity (63.2%), followed by mild (18.9%), with severe acne being the least prevalent (17.9%). Age over 20 years (OR = 1.73; CI = 0.60 – 5.01) and all three studied habits showed a trend towards increasing the risk of severe disease: habit of staying up late (OR = 1.36; CI = 0.28 – 6.64); habit of eating sweets (OR = 1.59; CI = 0.42 – 6.02); and habit of squeezing acne lesions (OR = 2.06; CI = 0.43 – 9.08). However, these associations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The most common clinical manifestations were papules and pustules. The majority of acne patients had moderate disease severity.

Article Details

References

[1] Vasam M, Korutla S, Bohara RA. Acne vulgaris: A review of the pathophysiology, treatment, and recent nanotechnology based advances. Biochem Biophys Rep. 2023 Nov 23;36: 101578. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101578.
[2] Dréno B, Pécastaings S, Corvec S, Veraldi S, Khammari A, Roques C. Cutibacterium acnes (Propionibacterium acnes) and acne vulgaris: a brief look at the latest updates. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Jun;32 Suppl 2:5-14. doi: 10.1111/jdv.15043.
[3] Etgu F, Sekerlisoy Tatar G. Risk Factors and Epidemiology of Acne Severity and Acne Scar Development: A Comprehensive Clinical Study. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2025 Oct 1;15(4): e20256108. doi: 10.5826/dpc.1504a6108.
[4] Na P. T. B., Lan P. T., & Em Đặng V. (2022). Nghiên cứu một số yếu tố liên quan và đặc điểm lâm sàng bệnh trứng cá thông thường tại Bệnh viện Da liễu Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. Journal of 108 - Clinical Medicine and Phamarcy, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.52389/ydls.v17i4.1232
[5] Nguyễn Văn Thường và cs. (2018). Bệnh học da liễu - Tập 2, trang 23-30. NXB Y Học
[6] Kokandi A. Evaluation of acne quality of life and clinical severity in acne female adults. Dermatol Res Pract. 2010; 2010: 410809. doi: 10.1155/2010/410809.
[7] Bagatin E, Freitas THP, Rivitti-Machado MC, Machado MCR, Ribeiro BM, Nunes S, Rocha MADD. Adult female acne: a guide to clinical practice. An Bras Dermatol. 2019 Jan-Feb;94(1):62-75. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198203. Erratum in: An Bras Dermatol. 2019 Mar-Apr;94(2):255. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.2019940202.
[8] Kutlu Ö, Karadağ AS, Wollina U. Adult acne versus adolescent acne: a narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment. An Bras Dermatol. 2023 Jan-Feb;98(1):75-83. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2022.01.006.
[9] Kuang X, Lin C, Fu Y, Wang Y, Gong J, Chen Y, Liu Y, Yi F. A comprehensive classification and analysis of oily sensitive facial skin: a cross-sectional study of young Chinese women. Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 10;15(1):1633. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-85000-z.
[10] Suh DH, Kim BY, Min SU, Lee DH, Yoon MY, Kim NI, Kye YC, Lee ES, Ro YS, Kim KJ. A multicenter epidemiological study of acne vulgaris in Korea. Int J Dermatol. 2011 Jun;50(6):673-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2010.04726.x.
[11] Berg M, Lindberg M. Possible gender differences in the quality of life and choice of therapy in acne. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Aug;25(8):969-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03907.x.
[12] Khormi G, Aldubayyan N, Hakami M, Daghriri S, Aqeel S. Impact of Lifestyle and Dietary Habits on the Prevalence of Acne Vulgaris: A Cross-Sectional Study From Saudi Arabia. Cureus. 2024 Mar 29;16(3):e57200. doi: 10.7759/cureus.57200.
[13] Kim H, Moon SY, Sohn MY, Lee WJ. Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Increases the Expression of Inflammatory Biomarkers and Sebum Production in Cultured Sebocytes. Ann Dermatol. 2017 Feb;29(1):20-25. doi: 10.5021/ad.2017.29.1.20.
[14] Schrom KP, Ahsanuddin S, Baechtold M, Tripathi R, Ramser A, Baron E. Acne Severity and Sleep Quality in Adults. Clocks Sleep. 2019 Dec 6;1(4):510-516. doi: 10.3390/clockssleep1040039.
[15] Samaniego M, Alonso M, Sohail N, Mostaghimi L. Sleep Disturbances and Acne: A Comprehensive Review. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2025 Oct 1;15(4):e20255530. doi: 10.5826/dpc.1504a5530.