The impact of acne vulgaris on quality of life and psychic health in young adolescents of Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Acne is a common inflammatory pilosebaceous dermatosis which affects the face, chest, and the back, during adolescence with a prevalence rate of almost 80%, being more prevalent and severe in boys than girls. Major complications of acne involve scarring and psychosocial distress as well as emotional and psychological challenges.

Objective: To determine the relationship between severity of facial acne and quality of life in students of a medical college of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional survey on 150 medical students was conducted in Rehman Medical College, Peshawar from February to July 2020 using the Acne-QoL questionnaire. Data were collected by convenience sampling from students who were willing to participate in the study after informed consent and analyzed for descriptive and comparative statistics by SPSS 23, keeping p≤0.05 as significant.

Results: Male and female students were approximately equal in number, 76 male (50.7%) and 74 females (49.3%). The ages ranged from 18 to 31 years old with a mean age of 22.75±2.822 years; most (72%) were in the age group of 22-26 years. Facial acne as single site involvement was the most common (48%) type encountered, followed by Back (14%) and Chest (11.3%) whereas multiple site involvement (face, chest, and back together) was seen in 26.7% cases. Grade I acne (56.7%) was the most common clinical type found, followed by Grade 2 (24.7%), Grade 3 (14%), and Grade 4 (4.7%). A majority (57.7%) of students had varying degrees of acne scars, whereas post-acne hyperpigmentation was seen in 41.3%. The impact of acne on quality of life was associated with the severity of the acne.

Conclusion: Presence of Acne, particularly its severe forms, may cause significant impairment in the quality of life of adolescents suffering from the condition, with males affected more than females.