Introduction: Nearly half of individuals diagnosed with acne vulgaris develop scarring. This study aimed to investigate the genetic associations between acne scarring and six selected gene variants (CYB5R1, IL1A, TLR4, FLG, SPINK5, and TNF). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and the Vietnam National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from September 2023 to December 2024. A total of 202 acne patients were recruited and categorized into either a non-scarring cohort (n = 55) or a scarring cohort (n = 147). Patients with scars were further classified into atrophic (n = 56), hypertrophic (n = 46), and keloid (n = 45) subgroups. Results: No significant demographic or clinical differences were observed between the groups (p > 0.05). Variants in CYB5R1 were more frequent in the scarred group than in the non-scarred group (38.1% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.05; OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.00–4.15), with the highest proportion observed in patients with atrophic scars. In contrast, IL1A variants were enriched in hypertrophic and keloid (fibrotic) scars (p < 0.05). The remaining evaluated genes (TNF, TLR4, FLG, and SPINK5) demonstrated no significant association with acne scarring. Conclusion: This study suggests a potential association between CYB5R1 and atrophic scarring, as well as between IL1A and fibrotic scarring. These findings support the polygenic nature of acne scarring, although further validation in larger cohorts is required.
To et al. (Thu,) studied this question.