Prevalence of acne vulgaris in Auckland senior high school students.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and severity of acne vulgaris in adolescent students.


METHODS
867 students in Auckland sixth and seventh form classes were interviewed on the subject of acne vulgaris. Of these 847 students were examined and graded for severity of their acne using a modification of the Leeds technique which ranks severity according to number, extent and nature of the acne lesion.


RESULTS
Ninety-one percent of males and 79% of females had some acne. Severe acne was present in 6.9% males and 1.1% females. Severe and moderately severe acne was significantly more common in males (OR = 2.6 95% Cl 1.73 < OR < 3.9). In the univariate analysis there was no association of moderately severe and severe acne with parental occupational group nor ethnicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate and severe acne is a common finding in Auckland senior high school classes with males being more affected than females.
Lello
J
J
Department of General Practice, Auckland University.
Pearl
A
A
Arroll
B
B
Yallop
J
J
Birchall
N M
NM
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*