Psychosocial judgements and perceptions of adolescents with acne vulgaris: A blinded, controlled comparison of adult and peer evaluations
2011

How Acne Affects Perceptions of Teens

Sample size: 2008 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Eva Ritvo, James Q. Del Rosso, Mark A. Stillman, Christopher La Riche

Primary Institution: Department of Dermatology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami

Hypothesis

Teens with acne would be perceived in a more negative fashion as compared to teens with smooth, clear skin.

Conclusion

Acne has a negative effect on the way people are perceived by others.

Supporting Evidence

  • 65% of teens and 75% of adults first noticed the skin of teens with acne.
  • 64% of teenagers with acne felt embarrassed by it.
  • 71% of teens with acne reported lower self-confidence.

Takeaway

People think teens with acne are shy and less likely to make friends, while those with clear skin are seen as happy and confident.

Methodology

Two national online surveys were conducted with 1,002 adults and 1,006 teenagers, using digitally altered photographs to assess perceptions.

Limitations

The survey was limited to participants willing to respond to an online survey.

Participant Demographics

Participants included 1,002 adults aged 18 and older and 1,006 teenagers aged 13-17.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

± 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1751-0759-5-11

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