title: A cross-sectional study to assess the incompatible dietary behavior of patients suffering from skin diseases: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ayurveda implies the importance of diet and dietary habits in various human diseases. Confirmatory evidence regarding role of diet and dietary practices in diseases of skin are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess incompatible dietary behavior in acne, psoriasis, fungal infections, and vitiligo patients using a questionnaire tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional case control study was conducted in the skin out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital. Patients were enrolled in each diseased group and their control groups. Perception of patients regarding the role of diet in skin diseases was evaluated. Study participants were subjected to 2 validated questionnaires to assess consumption of incompatible diet and incompatible dietary habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diet was perceived to be more important in patients of acne compared to their controls (P < 0.05). Mean composite score regarding the assessment of consumption of incompatible diet of acne (19.594 ± 4.613 vs. 16.719 ± 3.457, P = 0.006) and psoriasis (17.531 ± 2.688 vs. 16.281 ± 2.630, P = 0.0497) patients was higher than their controls. Mean composite score regarding assessment of incompatible dietary habits was higher in acne (19.031 ± 4.589 vs. 15.688 ± 4.645, P = 0.0054), psoriasis (18.875 ± 5.014 vs. 15 ± 3.069, P = 0.0009), and fungal infection (16.469 ± 3.538 vs. 14.5 ± 2.627, P = 0.0115) patients compared to controls. Mean composite scores of both the questionnaires in vitiligo patients were similar to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scores for consumption of incompatible diet and dietary habits were found to be higher in acne and psoriasis patients compared to controls. Patients with fungal infections had higher scores for the presence of incompatible dietary habits but similar scores for the consumption of incompatible diet, whereas both scores in patients of vitiligo were similar to controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Meghana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Dushyant
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keny
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: anirudhapotey@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Anirudha Vyankatesh
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Potey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Raakhi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
keywords: Acne; Diet; Fungal infection; Psoriasis; Vitiligo