Psychosocial impact of acne vulgaris in adolescents presenting to skin OPD of a public hospital
Abstract
Background: Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous unit and mainly involves the face and upper trunk. This disease has a peak incidence in adolescence, reaching up to 85%.[1] Acne poses a significant emotional and psychological effect in adolescents, which is the peak time of their social and physical development.[2] To this date, no reliable data is available about the psychosocial impact of acne, particularly in adolescents of Pakistan. Methods: A Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over 06 months (January to July 2019) among adolescents presenting to dermatology OPD, PAF Hospital Islamabad. One hundred eighty adolescents diagnosed with Acne Vulgaris were evaluated through the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI). After collection, data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Results: There were 55.6% male and 44.4% female patients with a mean age of 17.41±1.67 years. 80.6% of patients were students. 67.8% of patients had mild, 31.1% moderate, and 1.1% severe acne. The mean CADI score was 7.69±3.32. Our study showed 26% of adolescents had severe, 44% had moderate, and 30% had a mild impact on quality of life. The results also showed a significant association between impaired quality of life of acne severity and gender. Conclusion: Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin condition that has a considerable psychosocial impact on adolescents in Pakistan. Along with the dermatologist, a mental health professional might offer a more holistic approach to treating such patients.References
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