Patients with acne vulgaris are more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than the general population, but the mechanisms driving the link between the 2 disorders have yet to be fully established, according to study research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Patients with acne vulgaris (n=300) and age- and sex-matched healthy control participants (n=300) were recruited to the prospective study. Although there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of mean age at baseline (20.22 vs 20.49 years; P =.215), patients with acne had a significantly lower body mass index (23.37 vs 23.95 kg/m2; P =.001).