Psychosocial Impact and the Quality of Life of Patient with Acne Vulgaris among Public in Al Qunfudah Province, Southern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common disease condition, affecting approximately 9.4% of the world's population, with the highest prevalence in adolescents. It affects over 90% of men and 80% of women in all ethnic groups. It is not life-threatening or physically debilitating; however, acne lesions can leave post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and/or atrophic scars in moderate to severe acne cases, influencing quality of life (QoL) and leading to low self-esteem and weak social interactions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in AlQunfudah, Saudi Arabia, in 2021. Data were collected using a Google form questionnaire. The study population consisted of 210 participants. Saudi women and men aged ≥15 years who agreed to participate in the study were included, and no exclusion criteria were used. We used the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a validated questionnaire that grades QoL. Results: The study included 210 patients with comparatively more women (83.6%) than men (16.2%). The age distribution showed that 48.1% (n=101) of the patients were 21-25 years old, and 21.9% were 26-30 years old. Patients with severe acne scars had a higher DLQI score (8.91 ± 5.56) compared to others (p<0.001), and those with grade III had high scores of 9.38 ± 5.14 (p=0.004). The DLQI scores were higher in individuals with post-acne hyperpigmentation. When we compared the skin type and grade of acne, it was found that more people with “oily skin” had grade III (18.8%) and grade IV (7.1%) acne compared to other skin types, whereas grade I was seen more in the dry (81.8%) and normal skin types (61.9%) (p<0.001). Similarly, severe acne scars were more common in grade III (45.5%) and moderate acne scars were more common in grade II (54.1%) than in other types (p<0.001). We observed that grade II acne displayed more post-acne hyperpigmentation (46.6%), whereas grade III had 14.3% and grade IV had 7.5%, which showed a statistically significant association (p<0.001). Conclusion: Acne is a common skin disease in Al Qunfudah people and is a highly prevalent condition that affects both sexes. This has a considerable impact on their QoL. Health education is needed to encourage people to seek appropriate help.