Acne, a complex skin condition, has been associated with changes in the gut microbiome. This study investigated the relationship between acne and gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS), aiming to describe the frequency of dysbiosis-related GIS in a population from Bogota, Colombia. A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted from June 2020 to December 2022, involving 619 patients diagnosed with acne at a dermatologic center in Bogota. The results revealed that of the total patients, 65.53% were female, with a mean age of 21.6 years. The age group most affected by GIS was 12-24 years, accounting for 56.31% of patients. Out of the total, 383 patients (61.97%) exhibited GIS. Among these, 129 individuals (20.87%) experienced one symptom, while 111 patients (17.96%) had two symptoms. Abdominal pain was the most frequent, affecting 37.70% of the patients, followed by alterations in bowel habits (36.41%), abdominal distension (35.6%), flatulence (35.28%), and dyspepsia (27.51%). In addition, 18.09% of patients had a diagnosed gastrointestinal disease, with gastritis being the most common comorbidity. The study indicated a higher prevalence of acne and gastrointestinal disorders among women. Because dysbiosis is associated with poor eating habits, and considering that a significant portion of the studied patients fell within the 12 to 24-year age group, it is advisable for future prospective investigations to assess the long-term effects of diet on the development of gastrointestinal problems and inflammatory skin conditions like acne. Additionally, interdisciplinary management should be considered as part of acne treatment, as a considerable proportion of patients had gastrointestinal comorbidities, potentially underdiagnosed. Further research is needed to understand whether gastrointestinal symptoms precede the onset of gastrointestinal and skin diseases.

Poster ID 4407, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), Berlin, 11-14 October 2023