Association of fast foods and dairy products in acne severity and scarring: a cross-sectional study

The pilosebaceous unit is impacted by the prevalent chronic inflammatory skin condition known as acne vulgaris. The formation of comedones, papules, and pustules are among the clinical signs of acne. Acne is usually thought to be harmless, yet it can leave disfiguring scars and have psychological effects.

In our cross-sectional study with 386 participants, we examined acne severity and scarring in relation to variables such as age, gender, family history of acne, and dietary habits (especially fast food and dairy products). The assessments were conducted by a trained medical team and validated by a dermatologist. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16, with significance set at P < 0.05. Associations were expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Moderate acne was the most common presentation (66.6%), followed by mild (31.6%) and severe (1.8%) cases. Scarring was mostly Grade 2 (65.3%), with fewer participants having Grades 1, 3, or 4. In bivariate analysis, higher acne severity was significantly associated with younger age and male gender (P < 0.001). However, multivariate logistic regression revealed no statistically significant associations between acne severity or scarring and age, gender, family history, fast food consumption, or dairy intake.

In this cohort, no statistically significant association was observed between the consumption of fast foods or dairy products and acne severity. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the methodological limitations. Further research is needed to clarify the potential role of diet in acne development.