Evaluation of Psychological Wellbeing and Social Impact of Combined Facial and Truncal Acne: a Multi-national, Mixed-Methods Study.

INTRODUCTION

Half of the individuals with facial acne develop truncal acne, but the impact of combined facial and truncal acne (CA) on patients' quality of life is poorly researched.

METHODS

A 60-min interview of 30 participants with CA was conducted that formed the basis for a cross-sectional survey of 694 adolescents and adults with CA.

RESULTS

The main themes identified from the qualitative interviews among CA subjects included acceptability to self and others, social functioning and emotional wellbeing. Feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and low confidence were experienced often or all the time by over 50% of participants, and were more frequent in those who perceived their acne to be out of control (P = 0.003). Half of patients reported feeling stigmatised because of their CA, and 65.4% believed that others associated their truncal acne with unhealthy or unhygienic habits. Perceived stigma was associated with more feelings of embarrassment (P = 0.005), self-consciousness (P = 0.034) and low self-confidence (P = 0.017). Overall, 64% participants reported that CA interfered with daily life, 46.4% often or always avoided social interaction, 48.6% were often concerned about talking to unfamiliar people and 47.4% were uncomfortable showing affection. Further, 32% and 24.4% participants ≥ 16 years old avoided dating or having romantic/intimate relationships because of their facial and truncal acne, respectively. Social and leisure activities were more frequently negatively impacted among those with perceived uncontrolled CA than among those with controlled CA. Avoiding undressing in front of spouse/partner/friends/relatives was more commonly reported by participants with perceived uncontrolled truncal acne than by those with controlled truncal acne (90.5% versus 80.6%, P = 0.031).

CONCLUSION

CA is associated with considerable psychological morbidity, with several exacerbating (e.g. perceived stigma) and attenuating factors (e.g. acne being perceived as being under control) that should be accounted for in CA management.