Inflammatory facial acne during uncomplicated pregnancy and post-partum in adult women: a preliminary hospital-based prospective observational study of 35 cases from Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy is associated with significant changes in hormones and metabolism which can also exert impact on the skin.


OBJECTIVE
The study was aimed to evaluate the facial acne severity during pregnancy and post-partum period and to identify risk factors for acne in pregnancy.


METHODS
A hospital-based prospective study on pregnant women at age ≥18 years was conducted during their routine maternal examination. The severity of inflammatory facial acne was evaluated by the number of acne lesions and Global Acne Severity Scale, based on pictures taken at the three trimesters of pregnancy and post-partum period. Risk factors were identified by review of medical chart and questionnaires. Correlation with acne severity was statistically analysed.


RESULTS
Thirty-five pregnant women were included in this study with ages ranging from 25 to 40 years. The average number of facial acne was highest in the second trimester. Primigravida, female gender and low birth weight for gestational age of the newborn were associated with higher numbers of facial acne in the second and third trimester in our series.


CONCLUSIONS
Further investigation on a larger population and the relevant hormone changes is required to confirm and explain our findings.
Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. yangcc@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
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Yang
Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Huang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Yu
Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Wu
Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Hsu
IZZ Immunologie-Zentrum Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland. wenchieh65.chen@gmail.com.|Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. wenchieh65.chen@gmail.com.
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Chen
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan