The relationship between menstrual cycle and psychological stress on acne vulgaris incidence

Abstract

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic inflammation of the pilosebaceous unit and presents with a polymorphic clinical picture such as comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and scars. AV is often experienced by both women and men, affecting 85% of young adults aged 12-25 years, with women more commonly affected than men. There are several triggers that contribute to the onset of AV, including the menstrual cycle and psychological stress. This study aims to determine the relationship between the menstrual cycle, psychological stress, and the occurrence of acne vulgaris in female medical students at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani. The research design uses a cross-sectional study approach. There were 48 people who met the inclusion criteria. Respondents in this study were asked to fill out informed consent forms, questionnaires, and indicate their availability for standardized facial photos. The results of this study obtained a p-value of 1.000 and 0.529 (p-value > 0.05). It was found that there is no statistically significant association observed between either regular menstrual cycles or severe psychological stress and the presence of acne vulgaris in this sample. The odds ratios for both variables (1.052 and 1.303) suggest minor increases in the odds of acne vulgaris presence, but they do not reach statistical significance. This relates to the occurrence of acne vulgaris, which is not only caused by factors such as the menstrual cycle and psychological stress but also by various triggering factors including diet, use of cosmetics, facial hygiene, and unhealthy sleep patterns.