Clinical Investigation

Post-adolescent Acne in the Spectrum of Acne

  • Nurgül KAPULU
  • Aylin TÜREL ERMERTCAN
  • Mustafa Turhan SAHIN
  • Isil INANIR
  • Serap ÖZTÜRKCAN

Received Date: 11.12.2002 Accepted Date: 02.04.2003 Meandros Med Dent J 2003;4(1):5-8

Objective: Our aim was to determine the frequency of post-adolescent acne among acne patients, together with the type and localization of their lesions, concurrent hirsutismus, menstrual irregularities and hormonal abnormalities. Material and Method: Weperformedaretrospective study of patients with acne over 25-year-old, who attended ouroutpatientclinic from 1996 to 2001. Results: Of 1853 acne patients, 175 (9.4%) were diagnosed as post-adolescent acne. Among these 175 post-adolescent acne patients, 143 (81.7%) had history of acne after 25-years ofage, while 32 (18.3%) had persistent acne. The ages of patients with post-adolescent acne were ranging between 25 and 48 (mean value: 29.71 5.08). The duration period of disease was ranging between 1 and 240 months (mean value: 34.37 53.72). 144 of the postadolescent patients (82.3%) were female and 31 (17.2%) were male. When distribution of the lesions were evaluated, there were facial lesions in 125 patients (71.4%), trunk lesions in 11 patients (6.35%), and both face and trunk lesions in 39 patients (22.25%). Of 175 patients, 159 (90.9%) had papulopustular and 16 (9.1%) had nodulocystic acne. Hirsutism was observed in 20 cases (11.4%). When hormones were evaluated in 28 patients with hirsutism and/or irregular menstruation, abnormal levels were determined in 11 (39.3%) of them; while pelvic ultrasonographic evaluations revealed polycystic ovary syndrome in 7 (30.4%) of 23 patients, who had completed their ultrasonographic examinations. Conclusion: Because of the close association with hyperandrogenetism, postadolescent acne patients have to be investigatedthoroughly in the aspect ofhormonal irregularities.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris, postadolescent acne, persistant acne