ACNE IN VICTORIAN ADOLESCENTS - ASSOCIATIONS WITH AGE, GENDER, PUBERTY AND PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the associations between the f requency and severity of self-reported acne and age, gender, puberty a nd psychiatric symptoms in Victorian adolescents. Methodology: A sampl e of secondary schoolchildren in Victoria, Australia were surveyed usi ng a computerized questionnaire. Developmental and psyche-social facto rs associated with acne were recorded and analysed using logistic regr ession. Results: The Victorian Adolescent Health Survey (1992) recorde d the frequency and severity of self-reported acne in 2491 students. F requency of acne increased with age and pubertal development. For fema les commencement of menstruation was associated with increased frequen cy of acne. Asian born male students were less likely to report acne t han Australian born males. Acne severity was coded into mild (students reporting acne sometimes on back or. face) and moderate (students rep orting acne often on face or back). Students reporting moderate acne w ere more likely to report a high level of psychiatric symptoms and wer e in the later stages of puberty. Conclusions: This study confirms an association between the frequency and severity of self-reported acne a nd stage of pubertal development. It showed also that students reporti ng moderate acne were more likely to report psychiatric symptoms of de pression and anxiety.