Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D Level

Vitamin D is known to be related with calcium and bone metabolism. Recently, vitamin D has been shown to play an important role in innate and acquired immunity, cytokine release, inflammatory response, and may be associated with a reduced risk of infection. Studies have reported that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are significantly lower in COVID-19 infected patients than in uninfected patients. In addition, it has been shown that people with higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level would produce significantly more antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination.Thus, it is clear that vitamin D plays a pivotal but still not well understood role in the immune response to COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

Patients with inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, hair loss, idiopathic urticaria, etc.) are often observed to have deteriorated skin condition after COVID-19 vaccination, which not only affects the patient's quality of life, but also seriously affects the patient's willingness to complete vaccination. Since many studies have shown a high negative correlation between the severity of inflammatory disease and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, it is likely that the COVID-19 vaccination also impacts serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and acne severity in patients with acne vulgaris before and after the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Inclusion criteria

• Age of ≥ 20 years and < 65 years
• Diagnosis of acne vulgaris
• The one will receive the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine
• Signing informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• History of COVID-19 infection
• Currently taking vitamin-D, steroid, or any drugs for acne vulgaris.
• Coagulopathy
• Having any chronic inflammation disease, immunity-related disease, diabetes, mellitus, kidney disease, or liver disease.
• Have acute inflammation disease, for example, upper respiratory infection or urinary tract infection
• Pregnancy or lactation
• History of cancer or any major systematic disease