The Association of Serum Zinc and Magnesium Status with Acne Vulgaris Severity: A Case-Control Study

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a chronic disorder of pilosebaceous unit which commonly occurs between ages of 11 – 30 years. The aetiology of acne is multifactorial. Trace elements like zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) play important roles in various biochemical processes in the body and thus may have role in pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Hence, we aimed to assess serum Zn and Mg levels and to correlate same with severity in acne. Materials and Methods: A total 50 cases and 50 controls aged 18-45 years who visiting our hospital during march 2021 to march 2023 were included and blood samples were collected to quantify serum zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) levels using a flame atomic spectrometer, a susceptible analytical technique. Results: The study population exhibited a sex ratio of 1:1, with mean age of 28.10 years for cases and 29.39 years for controls. The average serum Zn concentrations were 93.80±28.56 µg/dl for cases, 98.33±33.88 µg/dl for controls and Mg concentrations were 1.94±0.18 mg/dl for cases, 1.98±0.17 mg/dl for controls respectively with no significant differences in serum levels were found between individuals with and without acne. However, a moderate correlation was observed between acne severity and Zn levels (“p-value” 0.089), suggesting a potential association. Conclusion: The study found no significant correlation between serum zinc and magnesium levels and acne incidence. However, a plausible association was observed between acne severity and serum zinc levels, suggesting a potential dependence of the former on the latter.