A new study looked at the mental and psychological toll acne can take on adult women. "Some felt that their acne made them appear less professional or qualified at work, and many described that having fewer peers with acne in adulthood magnified the impact of acne on their mental health, leading to feelings of social isolation." said study author Dr. John Barbieri, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
For the study, researchers asked 50 women with acne how they felt about their acne and its treatment, and the comments were revealing.
"Concerns about appearance, mental and emotional health consequences, and disruption to your personal and professional life were commonly mentioned," said Barbieri, who conducted the study while at the University of Pennsylvania.
When asked how acne affected her work, one woman said, "I feel like I’m not taken as seriously [or] professionally in my career because I have acne."
Another woman described the effect acne has on her mental health this way: "Sometimes I would go all day. I just wouldn’t look at myself in the mirror." Another noted that acne "prevents me from leaving the house. Prevents me from receiving my mail without makeup."
These are not trivial concerns. "Acne should not be seen as a cosmetic problem, given these important life impacts," Barbieri said.
Many of the women were frustrated with available treatments and had difficulty finding a dermatologist they trusted, the study showed.
There are safe and effective treatments for acne, Barbieri said. These include topical retinoids, topical or oral antibiotics, and spironolactone, which slows down the production of hormones that can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.
And "for the appropriate patient, isotretinoin is a very effective treatment for acne that can lead to long-lasting remission," he said. Isotretinoin, formerly called Accutane, now prescribed under the names Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Absorica and Zenatane, has its share of side effects, including the risk of serious birth defects, dry skin, eyes and mouth. There is also some concern about liver problems and depression.
Key points What is the lived experience of acne among adult women? Findings In this qualitative study of 50 adult women with acne, participants described a variety of lived experiences, including concerns about appearance, mental and emotional health consequences, and disruption to their personal and professional lives. Significance |
Acne often persists into adulthood in women. However, few studies have specifically explored the lived experience of acne in adult populations.
Aim
To examine the lived experience of acne and its treatment in a cohort of adult women.
Design, environment and participants
A qualitative analysis was conducted using a free list and open-ended, semi-structured interviews of patients in a large academic health care system (University of Pennsylvania Health System) and a private practice (Dermatologists of Southwest Ohio).
Fifty women ages 18 to 40 with moderate to severe acne participated in interviews conducted between August 30, 2019 and December 31, 2020.
Main results and measures
Free list data from the interviews were used to calculate the Smith S, a measure of salience for each list item. Semi-structured interviews were examined for themes regarding patients’ perspectives regarding their acne and its treatment.
Results
Fifty participants (mean [SD] age, 28 [5.38] years; 24 [48%] white) described acne-related concerns about their appearance that affected their social, professional, and personal lives, with many of them altering their behavior due to his acne.
Depression, anxiety, and social isolation were frequently reported.
Participants described successful treatment as completely clear skin over time or a manageable number of blemishes. Many participants described their frustration in finding a dermatologist with whom they felt comfortable and in identifying effective treatments for their acne.
Conclusions and relevance
The results of this qualitative study suggest that women with acne have strong appearance concerns and experience mental and emotional health consequences and disruptions in their personal and professional lives. Additionally, many patients describe challenges in finding effective treatments and accessing care.
Future trials are needed to understand optimal treatment approaches for women with acne to improve outcomes in this population.
