PREVALENCE OF ACNE-VULGARIS IN AUCKLAND SENIOR HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS

Aim. To assess the prevalence and severity of acne vulgaris in adolesc ent students. Method. 867 students in Auckland sixth and seventh form classes were interviewed on the subject of acne vulgaris. Of these 847 students were examined and graded for severity of their acne using a modification of the Leeds technique which ranks severity according to number, extent and nature of the acne lesion. Results. Ninety-one perc ent of males and 19% of females had some acne. Severe acne was present in 6.9% males and 1.1% females. Severe and moderately severe acne was significantly more common in males (OR = 2.6 95% Cl 1.78 < OR < 3.9). In the univariate analysis there was no association of moderately sev ere and severe acne with parental occupational group nor ethnicity. Co nclusion. Moderate and severe acne is a common finding in Auckland sen ior high school classes with males being more affected than females.