What can be the relationship between acne and dyslipidemia?
Dyslipidemia is an alteration in the metabolism of lipids (fats), with its consequent alteration in the concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins in the blood. These lipids and lipoproteins include triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density cholesterol (HDL), low-density cholesterol (LDL) and very low-density cholesterol (VLDL). Recent studies have shown that baseline levels of triglycerides, LDL and lipoprotein A are higher in most patients with moderate-severe acne than in the comparable healthy population (with the same gender, age and dietary habits) and that HDL is also lower in the former. Likewise, the LDL/HDL ratio is higher in the former than in the control population.
What do these findings imply?
It should be borne in mind that the lipid alterations mentioned are a cardiovascular risk factor, with the elevation of the LDL/HDL ratio being predictive of a cardiovascular “event” (myocardial infarction, stroke).
For this reason, two points must be kept in mind:
· In patients with acne , blood lipid control will be especially relevant and emphasis will be placed on recommending healthy dietary and physical activity habits.
· Some oral treatments for acne, such as isotretinoin, are contraindicated in patients with dyslipidemia. It will always be necessary to perform a blood test prior to the start of treatment. It should be remembered that the consumption of isotretinoin may be associated with an increase in blood lipids.
REFERENCES
Jiang H, Li CY, Zhou L, Lu B, Lin Y, Huang X, Wei B, Wang Q, Wang L, Lu J. Acne patients frequently associated with abnormal plasma lipid profile. J Dermatol. 2015 Mar; 42(3):296-9.