ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 2020 October;155(5):642-5

DOI: 10.23736/S0392-0488.18.05920-5

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

What Italians think about acne: results of a survey on 2327 acne patients and their mothers

Simona TAVECCHIO ✉, Mauro BARBARESCHI, Stefano VERALDI

Unit of Dermatology, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

BACKGROUND: The psychological impact of acne is comparable to that experienced by patients with severe diseases; however, most of the people does not consider acne as a true disease. We evaluated beliefs, sources of information and knowledge about acne in Italian adolescents and their mothers.
METHODS: This survey was carried out in 2327 acne patients and their mothers (4654 subjects) by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on ten questions: seven questions for the patients and three questions for their mothers.
RESULTS: All the 2327 patients and their mothers completed the survey. Approximately 75% of patients declared that acne has a negative influence on their self-esteem and relationships; furthermore, 87% of patients stated that acne limits their social life. Finally, 65% of patients declared that they are under treatment, but only in 20% of cases the treatment was prescribed by a dermatologist. The mothers considered pollution, wrong diet and hyperseborrhea as the most important etiological factors. They considered the treatment suggested by a cosmetologist and contraceptive pill as the best one; only 8% of mothers reported that they regularly took their children to the dermatologist.
CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve the treatment and the quality of life in acne patients, there is a need to improve awareness about this disease and its causes and to highlight the role and importance of dermatologists.

KEY WORDS: Acne vulgaris; Quality of life; Self concept; Dermatologists