Prospective Comparative Study of the Influence of Gender on the Clinical Profile and Quality of Life in Post Adolescent Acne

Background: A lot has been written on post adolescent acne and its effect on quality of life in women but not in men. The differences if any between post adolescent acne in men and women is not known. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical features and quality of life affectation of post adolescent acne in males and females.

Patients and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over one year on 77 patients who had post adolescent acne. Sociodemographic data was documented. They were clinically evaluated for lesion type and acne severity was graded. Quality of life impairment was documented using the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) instrument. Data was analyzed using the SPSS version 22. Level of significance of all statistical tests was set at P<0.05.

Results: There were 77 post adolescent acne patients made up of 27.3% males and 72.7% females. Prevalence of acne was 15.5% in males and 19.3% in females. Median age was 28 years in males and 31 years in females. Females had mixed lesions while males had non-inflammatory lesions. Quality of life was impaired in all the participants irrespective of gender. Mean Cardiff acne disability index in males was 6.6 ± 3.2 and 6.5 ± 3.8 in females. In males, only the severity of acne impaired quality of life while in females, quality of life was impaired by severity of acne, age at presentation, presence of acne scar and presence of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Conclusion: Post adolescent acne in males and females differ in prevalence, family history, lesion type, type of acne, severity and quality of life affectation and the factors that negatively impact quality of life.