More than 90 percent of people aged 12 to 17 face anxiety due to acne, to the point where their studies are affected, a poll by the Taiwan Acne and Rosacea Society released on Thursday showed.
Taiwan Acne and Rosacea Society chairman Chiu Pin-chi (邱品齊) said that the group conducted the poll earlier this year, with 1,000 people aged 12 to 25 responding.
The questionnaire separated respondents into three categories — those with acne, those with acne scarring and those without acne.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
Eighty-eight percent of respondents with acne or acne scarring said that they believed they could look better, compared with 46 percent among those without acne, the poll showed.
Respondents with acne or acne scarring are more conscious of their appearance and how they are perceived in society, and are more prone to self-criticism when they see attractiveness in others, the group said.
The poll showed that 71 percent of respondents aged 12 to 17 believed acne would affect their studies and academic performance, while 56 percent of those aged 18 to 35 said their studies and work would be affected.
Only 5 percent sought medical assistance for acne, while 60 percent expressed regret at not seeking treatment for the condition earlier and 70 percent hoped that they would find a treatment that ameliorated scarring, the poll showed.
Huang Yu-hui (黃毓惠), a doctor in Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Department of Dermatology, said that most people believe acne is a result of oily skin or a lack of cleanliness.
However, acne forms due to, over-secretion of oils from the sebaceous glands, abnormal keratinization or inflammation caused by Cutibacterium acnes, Huang said, adding that treatments differ depending on the cause.
If acne cannot be prevented by skincare routines, or if a person develops reddened acne, pustules or nodules, they should seek medical assistance, she said.
Medical assistance should also be sought for scarring to lower the risk of hyperpigmentation, she said, adding that people begin excreting more lipids at age 10 to 12, which increases the likelihood of acne, as do pressure and irregular lifestyles.
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