Prevalence and risk factors of facial acne vulgaris among Chinese adolescents.
Acne vulgaris, a very common condition among adolescents, can result in psychological distress, including anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of acne vulgaris among Chinese adolescents. In the Zhou Hai district of Guangdong Province, 3163 students 10 to 18 years old were selected from 7 schools. Information was collected using self-administrated questionnaIres and physician examinations. The prevalence of acne vulgaris was calculated from the collected data. Potential risk factors including age, gender, diet, skin type, sleeping habits, and facial make-up use were analyzed using stepwise logistic regression. The results showed a prevalence of acne vuglaris of 53.5% in all adolescents, with 51.3% in males and 58.6% in females. The prevalence of inflammatory acne in males and females combined was 25.8% and of acne scarring 7.1%. Increased age was related to higher prevalence and severity of acne vulgaris: 15.6%, 44.9%, and 70.4% for 10, 13, and 16 year olds, respectively. Acne vulgaris was more prevalent in girls under and boys over 14 years of age. Significant risk factors of acne vuglaris included age, skin type (oily, mixed, or neutral skin in comparison with dry skin), insufficient sleep, and cosmetic make-up use.


CONCLUSIONS
Acne vulgaris is prevalent among Chinese adolescents 10 to 18 years old. Health education to address this condition in Chinese adolescents could have important implications for public health.
Wu
Tie-Qang
TQ
Guangdong Center for Skin Diseases and STDs Prevention and Treatment, Guang Zhou, Guangdong Province, China. tq_wu@163.com
Mei
Shu-Qing
SQ
Zhang
Jin-Xin
JX
Gong
Long-Fen
LF
Wu
Fen-Jin
FJ
Wu
Wei-Hong
WH
Li
Jun
J
Lin
Min
M
Diao
Jian-Xing
JX
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors