The impact of acne vulgaris on quality of life and psychic health in young adolescents in Greece: results of a population survey

Abstract

BACKGROUNDAcne vulgaris can severely affect social and psychological functioning. OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of acne vulgaris and its severity on Quality of Life of young adolescents in Greece.METHODSWe conducted a questionnaire based survey among 1560 adolescent between the ages of 11 and 19 years old and 1531 of these were completed. Adolescents with acne filled all the questions including the Children Dermatology Life Quality Index. Adolescents without acne filled the questions about age, family history of acne, stress and smoking. Data were analyzed with Pearson Chi Square test. RESULTSAcne prevalence was 51.2% affecting both sexes equally. Self reported mild acne was present in 71.2% and moderate-severe acne in 28.8% of the study population. The mean age of the study population was 15.77y. The median score of Children Dermatology Life Quality Index was 4.02. The impact of acne on quality of life is associated with the severity of the acne (p<0.0001). Patients with moderate/severe acne experience greater psychosocial and emotional impairment (p<0.0001). Body image is modified proportionally to the severity of acne (p<0.0001). Symptoms and treatment of acne are factors that also influence their quality of life. Girls and boys are equally affected. Stress and heredity are correlated with acne and its severity (p<0.0001). We didn't find any correlation between smoking and acne. CONCLUSIONAcne affects Quality of Life of young adolescents in Greece. The impact is proportional to the severity of acne. More severe acne is associated with greater effect on quality of life with implications for self esteem, body image and relationships with others.

Awareness of Risk Factors for Skin Infections and its Impact on Quality of Life among Adults in a Malaysian City: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The effect on QoL of embarrassment and self-consciousness resulting from skin infection was also in line with other studies performed in central Saudi Arabia, in which the location of lesions caused by skin infection created a major psychological impairment in individual identity development [26,27]. Furthermore, the messiness and time-constraints imposed by the topical application of treatments for skin infection caused discomfort and annoyance [28].…”

The incidence of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with dermatological diseases

“…Quality of life in the group of patients with acne relates to extraversion; worse quality of life was found in more introverted individuals. This result is indirectly supported by research by Tasoula et al (2012), who report that acne causes feelings of inferiority and reduces self-respect, which negatively affects social interaction, and also subsequently affects the psychosocial area of quality of life. Quality of life in the group of patients with atopic dermatitis relates to agreeableness; worse quality of life is reported by individuals who are less agreeable.…”

“…According to our findings, both dermatological diseases affect quality of life, which has been confirmed by other studies. The effects on quality of life in patients with acne have been stated in several studies (Do et al, 2009;Tasoula et al, 2012;Yap, 2012;El-Khateeb et al, 2014). Quality of life affected by atopic dermatitis has also been described by several authors (Linnet, Jemec, 1999;Turčeková, 2012).…”

Evaluation of acne quality of life, loneliness and life satisfaction levels in adolescents with acne vulgaris

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