Therapeutic considerations and clinical characteristics of a sample of adolescent patients with acne vulgaris in Tirana, Albania: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is a common adolescent disorder but the data related to acne vulgaris is insufficient in Albania. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiologic features of acne vulgaris and to identify lifestyle and constitutional factors in formulating a proper management protocol. A cross-sectional study conducted on a representative sample of 2036 adolescents from 10 high schools located in Tirana. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to collect the data. The binary logistic regression was applied to assess the factors linked to the presence of acne vulgaris in adolescents. The mean age in the study population was 16.2 ± 0.9 years. The self-reported prevalence of acne was 50.3% (52.1% in females and 47.9% in males). Lifetime prevalence was 68.5%. The factors significantly associated with an increased likelihood over time were: frequent consumption of sweets, frequent endurance of stress, poor quality of sleep, positive family history of acne, oily and combination skin, menstrual disorders. Acne vulgaris is common among adolescents in our country. The identification of various modifiable factors related to acne generates opportunities to tailor and focus prevention efforts and better management and treatment planning in relevant high-risk groups.