The relationship between social media addiction, inflammation, Dopamine, and awareness in adult patients with acne vulgaris

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between social media addiction, inflammation, dopamine levels, and awareness in adult patients with acne vulgaris, considering psychological and physiological aspects. Material and methods: A total of 98 participants were included in the study: 53 acne patients (23 male, 30 female) and 45 control group members (20 male, 25 female). Both the case and control groups consisted of non-smokers and individuals who were not addicted to alcohol or gambling. The patient group was divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate, and severe) based on the International Global Acne Grading System (IGA). All participants were administered the 6-item Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and according to the results, they were classified into four groups: mild, moderate, high, and very high addiction. Results: The addiction level of the case group was observed as moderate with a score of 14.0±4.45, while the addiction level of the control group was observed as high with a score of 21.0±5.20. A significant difference was found between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: We attribute the lower level of addiction in acne patients compared to the healthy control group to a decrease in dopamine activation secondary to inflammation and to the state of awareness. However, it is clear that this issue requires further detailed research.