| Objective To observe the relationship among acne vulgaris, gut microbiota, and sex hormone levels in females. Methods A total of 90 female patients with acne vulgaris who were admitted to the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from January 2022 to June 2024 were selected as the acne group. Meanwhile, 90 healthy women who received health check-ups in the hospital were selected as the control group. The levels of gut microbiota and sex hormones [estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), androstenedione (AD) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)] were compared between the two groups. Subjects in the acne group were divided into the mild group (n=16), the moderate group (n=25), and the severe group (n=49) according to the severity of the disease. The relationship among the severity of acne vulgaris, gut microbiota, and sex hormone levels was analyzed. Results The amounts of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the acne group were lower than those in the control group. The amounts of Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli, and the proportion of gut microbiota imbalance were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Serum E2 level in the acne group was lower, and the levels of T, AD and DHEAS in the acne group were higher as compared with the control group (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the proportion of gut microbiota imbalance, E2, T, AD and DHEAS levels among the mild, moderate, and severe groups (P<0.05). The proportions of age of initial onset under 15 years and gut microbiota imbalance, and the levels of T, AD and DHEAS in the severe group were higher than those in the mild group and the moderate group. Serum E2 level was lower than those in the mild group and the moderate group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gut microbiota imbalance, T, AD, and DHEAS levels were independent influencing factors for severe acne vulgaris (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the severity of acne vulgaris was positively correlated with gut microbiota imbalance, T, AD, and DHEAS levels (rs=0.342, 0.456, 0.221, 0.215, P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with healthy individuals, female patients with acne vulgaris have imbalance of gut microbiota and abnormal levels of E2, T, AD, and DHEAS. Moreover, gut microbiota, T, AD, and DHEAS levels are closely related to the severity of acne vulgaris in female patients. |
