An Overview of Etiopathogenesis of Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the pilosebase unit. Acne vulgaris remains one of the commonest diseases to afflict humanity, with prevalence up to 90% during adolescence. Relatively little is known about its epidemiology despite the fact that acne is a universal condition in younger population. This disease is more common in developed countries than in less industrialized regions of the world. The etiopathogenesis of acne is multifactorial. Sebum production, follicular epithelial keratinization, bacterial proliferation, and inflammation play significant role in etiopathogenesis. Recent studies shown that toll like receptors and antimicrobial peptides play a role in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. The relationship between diet and acne is highly controversial. Strong evidence shows that high glycemic loads diet may exacerbate acne. In addition, the factors contributing to the formation of acne also include genetic predispositions, hormonal abnormalities, psychological, environmental and iatrogenic factors. The disease is mainly observed face, chest, back and shoulders. When acne is untreated, it may cause social isolation, difficulty in finding jobs, depression and suicide attempt as a result of emotional and physical scar formation. In this article, the epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of acne are overviewed