Author(s)

Ruba M. Jaber^*, Basma M. Alnshash, Suzan N. Mousa, Hanan S. Fayoumi, Lana M. Al-Qaderi, Asma M. Zant

School of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a widely prevalent distressing problem among young adults and adolescents. Almost one-third of young people consider acne to be a major problem/burden. Less than half of acne diagnoses are made by a physician, and acne is often self-managed. Objective: We aim to find the prevalence of acne among different age groups, treatment seeking behaviors and sources of knowledge about acne treatment. We also aim to determine impact of acne vulgaris on quality of life and psychology of patients. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Jordan university hospital, Amman, Jordan. Subjects: Patients aged 15 - 35 years old who attended the family medicine clinic in Jordan University Hospital. Intervention: A self-administered questionnaire, consisted of three major parts, distributed during the period between August 2019 and October 2019. Results: Upon analyzing the data, 153 out of the 300 participants were found to have suffered or were still suffering from acne with a prevalence of 45%. The mean age at which the acne started was 16.20. There was a significant correlation between severity of acne and impact on life. More than half of the affected participants sought doctor help to treat their acne; patients depended on many sources of information to manage their acne. The majority of them reported the dermatologist as their source of information. Patients tended to use different methods of treatment to manage their acne. The cleanser was the most commonly used methods of treatment. Conclusion: Our article demonstrates that acne is a prevalent distressing problem among adolescents; it affects patients’ quality of life. Different modalities of treatment and sources of information were sought by patients. As family doctors, we emphasize the need for accessible, accurate, community-based education on the modalities of treatment of acne, and the importance of prompt medical attention toward its effect on quality of life.

Acne Vulgaris, Prevalence, Quality of Life, Treatment, Adolescents, Cyst, Whiteheads, Blackheads, Nodules

Jaber, R. , Alnshash, B. , Mousa, S. , Fayoumi, H. , Al-Qaderi, L. and Zant, A. (2020) The Epidemiology of Acne Vulgaris among Adolescents and Young Adults in Jordan University Hospital. Open Journal of Nursing, 10, 353-366. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2020.104024.