Background: Although knowledge concerning the impact of acne vulgaris on quality of life has increased in recent years, relatively few studies have assessed the effect of a change in clinical severity on psychosocial state. Objective: Assessment of the effect of a change in clinical acne severity on psychosocial state. Methods: This was investigated by means of questionnaires and clinical assessements by acne patients and dermatologists. Fifty females with mild to moderate facial acne were seen before and after a 9-month treatment with oral contraceptives. Results: The results showed a great variability in psychosocial impairment between individuals. After 9 months, a significant reduction in clinical severity was seen overall which did not relate to the significant improvements in self-esteem, stability of self-esteem and acceptance of appearance. Conclusion: Perceived psychosocial impairment is individually based, is greater in women who subjectively overrate their acne and does not relate to clinical improvement.

Keywords:
Acne, Psychosocial aspects, Psychological impact, Quality of life, Self-esteem, Social impact
1.
Feingold A: Good-looking people are not what we think. Psychol Bull 1992;111:304–341.
2.
Motley RJ, Finlay AY: How much disability is caused by acne? Clin Exp Dermatol 1989;14:194–198.
3.
Kenyon FE: Psychosomatic aspects of acne: A controlled study. Trans St John’s Hosp Dermatol Soc 1966;52:71–78.
4.
van der Meeren HLM, van der Schaar WW, van den Hurk CMAM: The psychological impact of severe acne. Cutis 1985;36:84–86.
5.
Morgan M, McCreedy R, Simpson J, Hay RJ: Dermatology quality of life scales – A measure of the impact of skin diseases. Br J Dermatol 1997;136:202–206.
6.
Newton JN, Mallon E, Klassen A, Ryan TJ, Finlay AY: The effectiveness of acne treatment: An assessment by patients of the outcome of therapy. Br J Dermatol 1997;137:563–567.
7.
Mallon E, Newton JN, Klassen A, Stewart-Brown SI, Ryan AY: The quality of life in acne: A comparison with general medical conditions using generic questionnaires. Br J Dermatol 1999;140:672–676.
8.
Kellet SC, Gawkrodger DJ: The psychological and emotional impact of acne and the effect of treatment with isotretinoin. Br J Dermatol 1999;140:271–282.
9.
Klassen AF, Newton JN, Mallon E: Measuring quality of life in people referred for specialist care of acne: Comparing generic and disease-specific measures. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43(2, pt 1):229–233.
10.
Motley RJ, Finlay AY: Practical use of a disability in the routine management of acne. Clin Exp Dermatol 1992;17:1–3.
11.
Finlay AY, Khan GK: Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) – A simple practical measure for routine clinical use. Clin Exp Dermatol 1994;19:210–216.
12.
Girman CJ, Hartmaier S, Thiboutot D, Johnson J, Barber B, DeMuro-Mercon C, Waldstreicher J: Evaluating health-related quality of life in patients with facial acne: Development of a self-administered quetionnaire for clinical trials. Qual Life Res 1996;5:481–490.
13.
Chren MM, Lasek RJ, Quinn LM, Mostow EN, Zyzanski SJ: Skindex, a quality-of-life measure for patients with skin disease: Reliability, validity, and responsiveness. J Invest Dermatol 1996;107:707–713.
14.
Anderson RT, Rajagopalan R: Development and validation of a quality of life instrument for cutaneous diseases. J Am Acad Dermatol 1997;37:41–50.
15.
Niemeier V, Kupfer J, Demmelbauer-Ebner M, Stangier U, Effendy I, Gieler U: Coping with acne vulgaris: Evaluation of the Chronic Skin Disorder Questionnaire in patients with acne. Dermatology 1998;196:108–115.
16.
Gupta MA, Johnson AM, Gupta AK: The development of an acne quality of life scale: Reliability, validity, and relation to subjective acne severity in mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Acta Derm Venereol 1998;78:451–456.
17.
Shuster S, Fisher GH, Harris E, Binell D: The effect of skin disease on self image. Br J Dermatol 1978;99(suppl 16):18–19.
18.
Gupta MA, Gupta AK, Schork NJ, Ellis CN, Voorhees JJ: Psychiatric aspects of the treatment of mild to moderate facial acne: Some preliminary observations. Int J Dermatol 1990;29:719–721.
19.
Likert R: A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Arch Psychol 1932;140:44–60.
20.
Sanders G: Het gewone en het bijzondere van de homoseksuele leefsituatie. Deventer, Van Loghum Slaterus, 1977.
21.
Rosenberg M: Society and the Adolescent Self Image. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1965.
22.
Halfens RJG: Locus of Control. Beheersingsorientatie in relatie tot ziekte- en gezondheidsgedrag; academisch proefschrift, Maastricht, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, 1985.
23.
Tempelaar R, de Haes JCJM, van den Heuvel WJA, Nieuwenhuijzen MG, Pennink BJW: Een meetinstrument voor positieve en negatieve sociale ervaringen van (kanker-)patiënten. T Soc Gexondheidsz 1987;65:648–653.
24.
de Haes JCJM: Kwaliteit van leven van kankerpatiënten. Amsterdam, Swets & Zeitlinger, 1988.
25.
van de Willige G, Schreurs P, Tellegen B, Zwart F: Het meten van ‘life events’: de Vragenlijst Recent Meegemaakte Gebeurtenissen (VRMG). N Tijdsch Psych 1985;40:1–19.
26.
Cotterrill JA: Dermatologic non-disease: A common and potentially fatal disturbance of cutaneous body image. Br J Dermatol 1981;104:611–619.
27.
Lasek RJ, Chren MM: Acne vulgaris and the quality of life of adult dermatology patients. Arch Dermatol 1998;134:454–458.
28.
Medansky R, Handler RM, Medansky DL: Self-evaluation of acne and emotion: A pilot study. Psychosomatics 1981;22:379–383.
29.
Rubinow DR, Peck GL, Squillace KM, Gantt GG: Reduced anxiety and depression in cystic acne patients after successful treatment with oral isotretinoin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1987;17:25–32.
30.
Koo J: The psychosocial impact of acne: Patients’ perceptions. J Am Acad Dermatol 1995;32:S26–S30.
© 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
2001
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.