“Why acne?” I was asked this morning when a colleague wondered how, as a Dermatologist, I’d come to be so passionate about one particular skin condition. I’d like to share some facts & statistics with you 📈 1️⃣Acne is a highly visible inflammatory disorder that typically appears during adolescence and can be associated with a severe psychological and social impact on affected individuals. Reported effects include low self esteem & suicidal ideation. 2️⃣Irreversible scarring is reported to occur in up to 20% of teens with acne, resulting in a lasting, significant negative impact on emotional and mental health. (Some studies suggest clinically relevant scars in approximately half of acne sufferers). 3️⃣Up to 95% of adolescents are affected to some degree. Rates in males and females during adolescence are similar. Most fall into the mild-moderate bracket, whilst 10% of affected adolescents have severe disease. 4️⃣Acne regresses for many by the age of 25, however more than 10% of women over 25 have acne. 5️⃣A global disease burden analysis indicated that acne is the 8th most prevalent disease worldwide so this is a BIG problem. In spite of the above, the real life impact of living with this medical condition is so badly underestimated. I have had acne myself so understand first hand & I have also seen grown men & women break down and cry in my clinic talking about their acne. This recollection from @martinlove166 in the @guardian last year sticks in my mind: “You’d think I’d be over it all by now, but I’m thinking about my spots more and more – and the acute cruelty of being dealt such a blow just when it feels you can cope with it the least. Would I be the person I am today if I hadn’t lived with those terrible spots? It seems we often superficially sail through the events that have a delayed impact on our later lives. We cope with them at the time, take them in our stride, only to become unmoored by their aftermath later in life.” Early intervention reduces suffering. Please reach out to your doctor if you need help❤️ #acnematters Further reading: What does acne genetics tell us about pathogenesis? Common et al (British Journal of Dermatology 2019)