Acne vulgaris and risk of depression and anxiety: A meta-analytic review

Several studies have shown an association of acne vulgaris with depression and anxiety, but a quantitative review has not yet been conducted. We sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis that elucidates the association of acne vulgaris with depression and anxiety. A systematic review and meta-analysis of literature published before October 1, 2019 from the PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases was conducted. We used a metaanalytic approach to perform a random effects analysis comparing individuals with and without acne. Subgroup analyses between studies included age, study setting, and geographic region. Forty-two studies were included. We found a significant association of acne vulgaris with depression (r = 0.22 [95% confidence interval 0.17-0.26, P