Patients with facial acne scarring carry emotional burdens that impact daily life

Acne scars lead to a significant amount of emotional burden that impacts daily life, according to a poster presented at the EADV Congress virtual meeting.

“Over 40% of patients with facial acne (FA) develop clinically relevant acne scars,” Brigitte Dréno, MD, professor of cutaneous oncology at Nantes University Hospital in Nantes, France, and colleagues wrote. “Little is known about the demographic, clinical and emotional profile of patients with acne scars.”

Researchers conducted a population study of 300 adult European individuals with facial atrophic acne scars who were asked to answer an online questionnaire.

Mean age at scar onset was 18.7 years with the first facial acne signs beginning at a mean age of 14.3 years.

Annoyance of their facial acne was reported by 33% of participants, with 32% saying they felt less attractive because of it. Verbal or physical bullying because of their acne was reported by 30% of respondents.

Daily schedules were impacted by acne scarring in 37% of participants, and 66% reported avoiding at least one social or leisure activity due to their scars. These activities included having their photo taken (26%), going in public without makeup (21%), eating or drinking certain foods or beverages (20%) or exposing themselves to the sun (20%).

“Regardless of facial acne severity, acne scars represent a significant emotional burden for European patients, impacting their daily activities,” the authors wrote.