Acne vulgaris: prevalence and clinical forms in adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil

• Published in: Anais brasileiros de dermatología Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 428 - 435
• Main Authors: Bagatin, Ediléia, Timpano, Denise Lourenço, Guadanhim, Lilia Ramos dos Santos, Nogueira, Vanessa Mussupapo Andraus, Terzian, Luiz Roberto, Steiner, Denise, Florez, Mercedes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Acne vulgaris; Acne Vulgaris - diagnosis; Acne Vulgaris - epidemiology; Adolescent; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic data; DERMATOLOGY; Educational Status; Family characteristics; Female; Humans; Investigation; Logistic Models; Male; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic factors; Brazil; Acne vulgaris; Family characteristics; Prevalence; Demographic data; Socioeconomic factors
• ISSN: 0365-0596; 1806-4841; 1806-4841; 0365-0596
• DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142100

Acne is a common disease in adolescents, but there are no epidemiological data for acne in Brazil. To estimate the prevalence and degree of acne in adolescents from Sao Paulo and study socio-demographic factors, family history and lifestyle, associated with the disease. Cross-sectional study with 452 adolescents aged between 10 and 17 (mean=13.3 years), students from elementary and high school, examined by 3 independent evaluators. 62.4% were female, 85.8% white and 6.4% were aged 14. The prevalence was 96.0% and increased with age--all students over 14 had acne. The most prevalent form of acne was comedonal (61.1%), followed by mild (30.6%) and moderate (7.6%) papular-pustular, which affected mostly the face (97.5%). About half of the adolescents reported family history for acne in mother or father, and 20.6% reported previous treatment for acne. There was a higher chance of presenting non-comedonal acne with increased age (p<0.001). The prevalence of acne in adolescents varies widely due to the clinical features and diagnostic methods used. Adolescents whose brothers/sisters had acne (OR=1.7-p=0.027) and those over 13 (OR=8.3-p<0.001), were more likely to have non-comedonal acne. This study showed high prevalence of acne in adolescents from Sao Paulo, predominantly the comedonal form on the face, with a higher chance of presenting non-comedonal acne with increased age.