Misconceptions may lead to stigmatization of patients with acne

WASHINGTON — Images of acne were upsetting to healthy people, with more than half of study participants believing that acne was caused by poor hygiene, and half believing it was contagious, according to research presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

“Acne is a very visible condition, and it affects many patients during adolescence, when they’re especially vulnerable,” researcher Alexa Boer Kimball, MD, MPH, FAAD, director of the Clinical Unit for Research Trials and Outcomes in Skin and professor of dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, said in a press release. “When acne persist into adulthood, so can its effects on self-esteem, which may create difficulty for patients in work and social situations.”

Alexa Boer Kimball

In a study to explore perceptions of acne in the general public, Kimball and colleagues showed images of common skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, rosacea, herpes (labialis and whitlow), warts and tinea versicolor to 56 healthy people, who then completed a questionnaire measuring their reactions to the conditions.

Most of the participants (62.5%) were upset by acne images, which was more than for any other condition, except for herpes. The difference was significant compared with eczema, vitiligo, rosacea and tinea versicolor.

More than half of the participants (55.4%) believed poor hygiene was the cause of acne, and 37.5% reported it was related to diet. The belief that acne was contagious was reported by 50% of respondents.

Most participants (67.9%) reported they would find someone with acne unattractive and would feel ashamed if they had acne. Almost half of the participants (44.6%) reported they would be uncomfortable touching a person with acne.

However, only 19.6% of participants reported they would exclude people with acne from social events, 14.3% would avoid hiring them for a job, and 3.6% would separate from a significant other because of acne. More than 80% of participants reported feeling pity for acne.

“Acne is a very common condition, but it seems that many people don’t have a good understanding of it, “Kimball stated. “The widespread misconceptions about acne may contribute to negative perceptions, which can affect patients’ quality of life and social interactions.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: Healio.com/Dermatology could not determine relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.