The Cutaneous Manifestations of Obesity in Adults

Background: Obesity has a variety of consequences on the physiology of the skin, including changes in the sebaceous glands and production of sebum, sweat glands, lymphatics, collagen structure and function, wound healing, microcirculation and macrocirculation, and subcutaneous fat. These consequences lead to various skin manifestations associated with obesity, such as acanthosis nigricans, achrocordons, keratosis pilaris, striae distensae, cellulite, and palmoplantar keratoderma-plantar hyperkeratosis and others. Aim of the study: To study the cutaneous manifestations of obesity in adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Mosul Public Hospital and Al-Salam Teaching Hospitals in the Ninevah governorates .Inclusion criteria involved adults> or = 18 and BMI > or = 30 kg/m2. At the same time, exclusion criteria involved pregnant women and children. Results: Skin tags were found in 56.1% of class I of obesity classifications ,70.0% of class II obesity, and 100.0% of class III of obesity classifications, the difference was statistically significant at (p=0.037). Cellulite was found in 58.5%, 85.0%, and 100.0%, respectively, with significant differences (p=0.012). Ulcers were found in 7.3%, 5.0%, and 33.3%, respectively, with a significant difference (p=0.042). Intertrigo was found in 43.9%, 25.0%, and 77.8%, respectively, with a significant difference (p=0.028). Excessive sweating was found in 21.9%, 25.0%, and 77.8% of the classes, respectively, with (p=0.003), and the Bonferroni correction was significant only between class I and III. Conclusion: Obesity is linked to a wide range of dermatologic illnesses and is responsible for several pathological changes in the skin.