The following is a summary of “A propensity score matched cohort study identifying an association of acne, but not oral antibiotic or isotretinoin use, with risk of incident inflammatory bowel disease,” published in the APRIL 2023 issue of Dermatology by Taylor, et al.

For a study, researchers sought to investigate whether oral antibiotics or isotretinoin for acne was associated with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and whether acne was a risk factor for IBD. 

They conducted a propensity score-matched cohort study using electronic health data from 2001 to 2022. They compared the 1-year incidence of IBD between those without acne, those with acne managed without systemic medications, those with acne managed with oral tetracycline-class antibiotics, and those with acne managed with isotretinoin.

The results showed a statistically significant association between acne and the risk of incident IBD, with an odds ratio of 1.42 and a 95% CI of 1.23-1.65. However, no statistically significant association existed between oral tetracycline-class antibiotic or isotretinoin exposure and IBD.

The study had some limitations, including the use of electronic health data and the potential for misclassification bias. Nevertheless, the findings provided further reassurance regarding the safety of isotretinoin in treating acne. Moreover, the association between acne and IBD highlighted the importance of monitoring patients with acne for potential gastrointestinal symptoms and the need for further research to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the association.

Reference: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(23)00083-X/fulltext