Vitamin A and E Levels in Patients with Mild and Moderate Acne

Abstract

Objective: Follicular hyperkeratinization and Propionibacterium acnes colonization are mainly responsible for the pathogenesis of acne. As the relationship between vitamin levels and skin diseases is not fully understood, plasma levels of vitamins A and E in resistant acne patients were evaluated in this study.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 96 resistant acne patients who were followed up in the dermatology outpatient clinic of Bezmialem Vakif University Hospital between January 2015 and December 2015 were evaluated to determine plasma levels of vitamins A and E.

Results: A total of 96 acne patients and 50 age- and sex-matched control patients were analyzed. Vitamin E levels were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05), whereas vitamin A levels were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Based on our results, we conclude that vitamin E plasma levels do not have a major role in the pathogenesis of acne. However, dietary foods rich in vitamin A may be recommended to these patients.