title: The impact of acne vulgaris on quality of life and psychic health in young adolescents in Greece. Results of a population survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acne vulgaris can severely affect social and psychological functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of acne vulgaris and its severity on Quality of Life of young adolescents in Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  We 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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acne 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acne 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens Medical school, Dermatology Department, Attikon Hospital - Xaidari, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tasoula
authors.forename: Stamatis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gregoriou
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chalikias
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazarou
authors.forename: Ifigenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Danopoulou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsambas
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rigopoulos
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult