Dietary Patterns and Acne Severity in Middle Eastern Youth: The Negative Correlation Role of Fermented Dairy Products

OBJECTIVE: Acne vulgaris is one of the most prevalent skin disorders worldwide, affecting 85-90% of teenagers. Acne can be caused by a variety of factors, but lifestyle decisions like stress levels, sleep patterns, and diet can play a significant part. This research aims to examine how lifestyle factors impact the severity of acne vulgaris. METHODS: Patients with acne who visited dermatology clinics at a primary referral hospital in northern Jordan were included. They also used the validated Global Acne Severity Scale to assess acne severity. Structured interviews gathered information on dietary habits, physical activity, sleep quality, smoking behaviors, and psychological stress. The study identified risk factors associated with moderate-to-severe acne through multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The study included 423 participants with a mean age of 20.2 years. Frequent consumption of fast food (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-1.81) and sweets (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.15-1.98); lack of sleep (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI:1.02-1.36); and high psychological stress (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.28-1.93) were all significant correlates of moderate-to-severe acne. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (aOR = 0.66, 95% CI:0.41-0.84) and regular exercise (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.44-0.89) were inversely associated with acne severity. In the exploratory post hoc dairy-subtype analysis, yogurt (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.53-0.83) and labneh (aOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.51-0.79) were inversely associated with moderate-to-severe acne, whereas non-fermented milk was positively associated (aOR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.12-1.68). CONCLUSION: This clinic-based cross-sectional study identified several demographic and lifestyle factors associated with acne severity among Jordanian youth. The exploratory post hoc analysis also identified inverse associations between yogurt and labneh consumption and moderate-to-severe acne, while non-fermented milk showed a positive association. These findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in prospective and interventional studies before specific dietary or lifestyle recommendations can be established.