Beliefs, perceptions and psychosocial impact of acne amongst Singaporean students in tertiary institutions

Summary Background Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition which can have a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. Patients and Methods A survey was distributed among students at tertiary institutions. Data was collected on participants’ own rating of acne grade and how acne affected their social life. A clinician on‐site graded the participants’ acne. Results Of the 429 students who participated in the survey, 59.8 % felt embarrassed or self‐conscious because of their acne. There was a low but statistically significant correlation (Spearman's Correlation Coefficient = 0.471, p < 0.001) between participants’ and clinicians’ grading of acne. Conclusions Acne vulgaris causes a considerable amount of psychosocial stress. There are unfounded beliefs surrounding acne and unawareness of treatment options available.