63

Acne is an inflammatory disease that frequently occurs in adolescents. Its prevalence in adults is increasing and can be affected by various external factors, known as the exposome.Aims and objectives: To study the existence (or absence) of a correlation between the clinical characteristics of adult acne and the external factors most implicated in its onset.Material and methods: A prospective, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted over a 3-year period. Data from adult patients (>25 years) were collected using a computerized questionnaire.Results: A total of 200 patients, with a mean age of 28.87 years, participated in this study. Among them, 81% had mild to moderate acne, while 19% had severe acne. The patients primarily reported suffering from mixed-type acne (76%), with a predominance in the U-zone (59%). The consumption of milk and high-fat foods with a high glycemic index, as well as sun exposure, stress, and the use of cosmetics correlated significantly with acne severity. Sun exposure correlated with mixed acne, and stress with inflammatory acne. Cheek acne correlated with milk consumption and smoking, while forehead acne correlated with high glycemic index foods and sun exposure. Stress, cosmetics use, and the use of antibacterial products correlated with U-zone acne. High-fat foods and antidepressants correlated with overall facial acne, while extra-facial acne correlated with milk consumption.Conclusion: Our results show that external factors not only influence the outbreak and severity of acne in adults but also affect the clinical presentation and location of flare-ups.