Healio
Healio
thin banner showing gloved hands examining moles on a patient's back

American Academy of Dermatology Meeting
March 19, 2013
1 min read
Save

Reports of clinical characteristics of women’s acne varied by race

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The clinical characteristics of facial acne among women varied by race, according to survey results presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

Valerie D. Callender, MD, of the Callender Dermatology & Cosmetic Center in Glenn Dale, Md., and colleagues conducted a Web-based survey of 208 women (mean age, 35 years) with acne (at least 25 visible facial pimples) in the United States. Patients were white (n=107), black (n=51), Hispanic (n=23), Asian (n=16) or other (n=11). Survey outcomes included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, perceptions, coping behaviors, special needs for acne care and treatment (women of color only). Racial differences were evaluated by t tests and chi-square analyses (white vs. nonwhite).

White patients had earlier mean age of acne onset than women of color (14.8 years vs. 17 years; P<.05) and earlier concerns about acne (16.6 years vs. 19.3 years; P<.05). All patients experienced similar mean age of adult onset acne (25.7 years for whites vs. 25.4 years for nonwhites; P>.05). White patients presented facial acne mostly on the chin (28.0%) and cheeks (30.8%), while the others presented mainly on the cheeks (58.4%).

Compared with women of color, white patients considered facial acne overall more troubling (88.8% vs. 76.2%; P<.05). Adult acne was perceived as worse or more severe than teenage acne by 23.4% of white patients and 19.8% of the other patients. More white patients (63.3%) used makeup to cope with acne compared with the other groups (48.5%; P<.05).

“Many [women of color] felt that acne treatment for their race/ethnicity/skin type requires special treatment (69.3%) and would prefer treatments designed specifically for their skin (66.3%),” the researchers reported.

“These results may help inform clinicians about racial differences in clinical presentation of facial [women’s acne], increase awareness of specific needs of [women of color] and guide treatment recommendations,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers reported various financial disclosures. The study was sponsored by Allergan.

For more information:

Callender VD. P6992 – Acne vulgaris in adult females: Racial differences in clinical characteristics, perceptions, and behaviors relevant to facial acne. Presented at: American Academy of Dermatology 2013 Annual Meeting; March 1-5, Miami Beach, Fla.