title: Evaluation of social anxiety, self-esteem, life quality in adolescents with acne vulgaris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acne vulgaris is a visible skin disease commonly seen in adolescence. As it affects the appearance, it is likely to bring stress to the adolescent's life regarding sensitivity about their appearance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the social anxiety level, acne-specific life quality, and self-esteem among adolescents with acne vulgaris. In addition, we evaluated the relationship between these parameters, clinical severity, and sociodemographic data.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and two adolescents with acne vulgaris, aged 12-17 years without any psychiatric or medical comorbidity were recruited. The control group consisted of 83 adolescents in the same age range, who had neither psychiatric disease nor acne. Sociodemographic form (SDF), Capa Social Phobia Scale for Children and Adolescents (CSPSCA), and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) were applied to both groups. Additionally, the severity of acne was determined with Global Acne Grading System (GAGS), and life quality of the patients was evaluated with Acne Quality of Life Scale (AQOL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in social anxiety levels and self-esteem between the study and control groups. Life quality impairment and high social anxiety levels, as well as low self-esteem, were found to be associated regardless of the clinical severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the psychiatric comorbidities when treating adolescents with acne vulgaris. Especially, low self-esteem and life quality impairment should warn clinicians to predict high social anxiety levels in adolescent acne patients.
authors: Bülent Ecevit University, School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Zonguldak 67600, Turkey.
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Unal
authors: Bezmi Alem Vakıf University, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, İstanbul 34093, Turkey.
authors: Nazan
authors: N
authors: Emiroğlu
authors: Bezmi Alem Vakıf University, School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, İstanbul 34093, Turkey.
authors: Fatma Pelin
authors: FP
authors: Cengiz
keywords: acne vulgaris; life quality; self-esteem; social anxiety