Background: Polycystic syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in the world affecting 8% of women. The main characters of PCOS are enlarged ovaries, chronic ovulation, menstrual cycles disturbance, androgen overdose, and insulin resistance leading to acne, hirsutism, and reproductive problems. Acne is a quite common dermatological condition in daily practice.

Aim: To determine the association of acne vulgaris with polycystic ovarian syndrome in patients visiting the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and duration of study: Dermatology Outpatient Department, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital Lahore from March 2019 to March 2020.

Methodology: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study from March 2019 to March 2020 conducted at the Dermatology Out-patient Department, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. All patients between the ages of 18 and 40, with acne vulgaris were included in the study. After obtaining informed consent, 101 women with acne vulgaris in I-IV (Indian stages), between the ages of 18-40 years, presented in the Department of Dermatology, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, from March 2019 to March 2020, were selected for the study. Pregnant females, lactating mothers, and women on hormonal treatment (oral contraceptives or injections) were excluded from the study. A history of acne, oligomenorrhea, hirsutism, seborrhea, alopecia, acanthosis nigricans infertility, obesity and amenorrhea were taken. Weight and height were measured to calculate BMI. Data were collected in a special statistically tool and analyzed using SPSS-25. Results: A total of 101 women were examined having acne vulgaris issue. A total of 101 female were assessed and having history of acne vulgaris. Out of this, 33 were 18–23 years old, while 24 (23.4%) have ages 24–28 years. There were 18 (17.8%) patients who have 29–33 years old. while 38–40 years were 10 (9.9%) years old. Irregular menstrualcycle was reported 34.6% of the study population. As Perth WHO criteria, only 17% of the participants had BMI in normal weight range. The proportion of women, who were overweight and obese were 50.4% and 32.6% in the study population.

Conclusion: Acne vulgaris has been identified as a serious skin disease found in all age groups. PCOS is more common among women with acne and obesity is a major risk factor for PCOS.

Keywords: PCOS, Acne