Background Some have hypothesized that resistance to insulin, a condition in which cells become less responsive to insulin, contributes to the development and worsening of acne vulgaris. The study's primary objective was to identify any associations among resistance to insulin and acne vulgaris severity. Methods Forty patients (range: 18–40 years old) with acne vulgaris and forty healthy controls (range: 18–40 years old, sex: X), were included in this case control study. Height as well as weight were the anthropometric metrics. To determine how bad acne is, doctors utilize the Global Acne Grading System. Laboratory testing for insulin resistance was conducted using the HOMA-IR technique, which stands for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Insulin levels were measured in microIU/mL and fasting glucose in mg/dL. Results Insulin levels while fasting were noticeably higher in individuals with acne (median 10.50 μIU/mL) compared to controls (median 6.50 μIU/mL). Acne sufferers had a much higher HOMA-IR (median 2.10) compared to controls (median 1.30). There is a strong relationship (p = 0.004) between the HOMA-IR and the severity of acne.ROC analysis showed that HOMA-IR can differentiate acne patients from controls (AUC = 0.769, cutoff = 1.55, sensitivity = 82.5%, specificity = 62.5%). For predicting severe acne, the optimal HOMA-IR cutoff was 2.15, with AUC = 0.834, sensitivity = 81.8%, specificity = 69.0%, and accuracy = 72.5%. Conclusion Insulin resistance is more prevalent in acne patients and correlates with acne severity. HOMA-IR could serve as a metabolic marker in acne management. Targeting insulin resistance may improve acne outcomes.
Erian et al. (Thu,) studied this question.