AARS Acne Experts Address the Impact of Acne on Affected Individuals

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - June 27, 2023 - PRLog -- Acne affects approximately 85% or more of the population in the U.S., yet the condition is still associated with stigma.

Among adults, patients with acne have been found to report higher levels of anxiety and depression than individuals without acne.¹ Young adult women with acne report higher rates of "feelings of embarrassment" and "interference with social activities" than peers with acne.²

Acne was found to have a negative impact on the quality of life of both male and female young adults. Acne scarring had more impact than inflammatory acne lesions.² Research similarly shows that post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—persistent areas of discoloration that remain after acne lesions resolve—negatively impacts the quality of life of affected individuals.³

"There is no doubt that patients with acne may be impacted by the condition, no matter their age," observes Andrea Zaenglein, MD, President of the American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS, acneandrosacea.org). "Thankfully, we have access now to more treatments that ever before, and there are even more treatments in development to treat this common disease."

Treatments for acne include topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and antibiotics, oral antibiotics and isotretinoin, and energy-based devices. The number of treatments for acne scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is also growing.

AARS members urge patients to be aware of their options and to visit a Board Certified Dermatologist who can help them achieve their treatment goals. "When I ask my fellow dermatologists how many zits it takes to have a negative impact on their day, overwhelmingly, the most common answer I hear is one," says AARS Past President Julie Harper, MD. "We don't want even one acne lesion on our face. Neither do our patients.

"Those of us who are writing the prescriptions need to keep going and help our patients to achieve clear skin," Dr. Harper urges.

Effective acne treatment typically requires the use of a combination of interventions. Due to the course of acne lesion development, initial results will take a few weeks to be evident, AARS experts advise.

"It's important for patients to know that we can help them achieve clear skin, even if they have not had treatment success in the past," Dr. Zaenglein says. "Patients should see a dermatologist and be wary of non-medical sources of advice, like social media."

For more information or to schedule an interview with an AARS expert, please contact: info@aarsmember.org