Analytic Study of the Patients Registered at Seoul National University Hospital Acne Clinic / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acne is a common skin disorder which affects both adolescents and adults. However, there have been few Korean epidemiological studies conducted. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence, demographic factors, clinical features and aggravating factors of acne. We also investigated the relationship of these factors. METHODS: Epidemiological and clinical data was obtained by interviewing 657 acne patients, newly enrolled at Seoul National University Hospital Acne Clinic between 1996 and 2004. RESULTS: Most patients were found to have facial acne, and the forehead and cheeks were the most common sites where acne first developed. Males tended to visit the hospital because of social problems compared to females. We identified some significant correlations with sex, age of onset, disease duration, first affected site, seborrhea, and family history. Acne lesions developed earlier and disease duration was longer in the group with a family history of acne or severe seborrhea. More than 80% of patients were found to have subjective symptoms, including pain and itching which were most frequent. The degree of seborrhea was higher and the aggravation after sun exposure was more frequent in the group where complete remission of acne had not been achieved. Aggravation of acne was most frequent in summer, followed by winter. CONCLUSION: We could investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of acne patients, including the age of onset, motive of treatment, subjective symptoms, plus outcome of treatment according to remission history of acne, as these factors have never been reported in the Korean literature before.