Quality of Life in Patients with Acne Vulgaris: an observational study.

Objective: To investigate the quality of life of patients with acne vulgaris of various degrees of severity, and to provide evidence for establishing effective clinical treatment strategies. Methods: We used a self-made questionnaire to assess the demographics, symptoms, and physical signs of patients with acne vulgaris, as well as the acne severity, treatment efficacy, impact of acne on mental health, and effect of acne on daily life. The severity of acne was classified into four grades based on the latest acne grading guideline. Quantitative variables were described as ranges, percentages, and means ± standard deviations. The chi-squared test, linear-by-linear association, and Spearman’s correlation analysis were used to analyze the correlations between categorical variables. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program (version 22.00; SPSS Inc.). A two-tailed probability value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 94 patients who responded to the questionnaire, the responses of nine patients were excluded because of incomplete data. As the acne severity grading increased and the self-assessed appearance rating decreased, the impacts on daily life, social activity, and mental health increased. There was a weak correlation between the acne severity grading and self-assessed appearance rating (P=0.020, rs=-0.253). The impact of acne severity on the quality of life was mainly reflected as influences on personal reputation (P=0.016) and recreation and leisure activities (P=0.042); the self-assessed appearance mainly affected the patients’ professional careers (P=0.010). The severity of acne (P=0.005) and the effects of acne on attention (P=0.010) and intimacy (P=0.024) varied by sex. Females were less tolerant of appearance blemishes, while males were more troubled by the physical discomforts caused by acne. Conclusion: The impact of facial acne on quality of life is related to the acne severity grading, patients’ self-assessed appearance rating, and sex. In clinical practice, therapeutic regimes should be formulated in accordance with the different needs of each patient.