LetterSeasonal variation of acne and psoriasis: A 3-year study using the Physician Global Assessment severity scale
Section snippets
Psoriasis
PGA scores for 5468 psoriasis patients were collected. Sixteen percent of patients were seen in summer, 25% in fall, 31% in winter, and 28% in spring. There were no significant seasonal differences in age or sex. Psoriasis showed summer clearing: 20.4% of patients were graded effectively clear versus 15.3% in winter (Fig 2). When effectively clear patients were compared over 4 seasons, a chi-square test was significant (P < .01). Conversely, psoriasis flared in the winter (P < .01; Fig 2).
Acne
PGA scores for 9301 acne patients were collected. Seventy-three percent were women. No significant difference in sex existed between seasons. There was a significant difference in average age at 28.2 years in summer and 30.0 in winter. Eighteen percent of patients were seen in summer, 25% in fall, 28% in winter, and 29% in spring. Acne cleared in the fall: 17.5% of patients were graded effectively clear compared to 13.5% in winter (Fig 2). When effectively clear patients were compared over all
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Funding sources: None.
Conflicts of interest: None declared.