BACKGROUND:High prevalence of rhinoplasty, controversies about its cutaneous complications and lack of structured studies about relationship between acne vulgaris and rhinoplasty, point out the necessity for performing this study. PURPOSE:To determine the frequency of acne and its exacerbation after rhinoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS:In a longitudinal controlled study at a tertiary referral university hospital, the degree of acne before and 1 and 3 months after surgery was measured in 110 patients (30 Male, 80 Female, Mean age: 26.3 ± 6.8) with rhinoplasty and 80 patients (35 Male, 45 Female, Mean age: 24.5 ± 4.6) with septoplasty, based on Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). The data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software. RESULTS:The frequency of acne exacerbation in first post-surgical visit was 27% in case and 3.5% in control subjects (P<0.007). In case group, 42.9% of those who had no acne before surgery, developed mild acne and 14.5% of those with mild acne, turned into moderate acne. In second post-surgical visit 91.7% of those who had moderate acne in first visit, turned into mild acne and 80% of those with severe acne in first post-surgical visit changed into moderate acne without any specific therapy (P<0.0001 and P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS:Rhinoplasty has significant relationship with acne exacerbation. The severity of acne decreases gradually during 3 months after surgery. For determining the exact course and risk factors of this complication, further studies are needed.