Demographic features and seasonal variations in patients with acne vulgaris in Saudi Arabia: a hospital-based study.

AIM

To review the demographic features and seasonal variations of acne vulgaris in patients diagnosed at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, King Fahad Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty cases (142 females, 78 males; mean age, 14.8 and 16.3 years, respectively) seen between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2000 were studied.

RESULTS

Patients suffering from acne vulgaris made up 19.6% of the new cases seen at the clinic. The male to female ratio was 1 : 1.8. The mean age of onset was 16.3 +/- 2.1 years for males and 14.8 +/- 3.9 years for females (P = 0.003). The largest numbers of patients were seen during the cold months of the year (November to February).

CONCLUSIONS

Acne vulgaris constituted nearly one fifth of all visits to the dermatologist with female predominance. It appears nearly one and a half years earlier in females than in males. Seasonal variations were observed in acne as the condition exacerbates in winter, while if often improves during the summer months.