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Epidemiology and risk factors of childhood acne in Korea: a cross-sectional community based study.

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2015 May 25;

Authors: Park SY, Kwon HH, Min S, Yoon JY, Suh DH

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of acne vulgaris appears to be evolving, with an increasingly earlier onset seen in childhood. Relevant studies have been rarely performed in Asia.
AIM: We sought to estimate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of acne among schoolchildren, and its association with treatment-seeking behaviour, body mass index (BMI), nutritional habits and other lifestyle elements.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with elementary schoolchildren aged 7-12 years. Children were interviewed by self-administered questionnaires, and were subsequently evaluated by dermatologists.
RESULTS: Of 693 children enrolled, 36.2% were diagnosed with acne, and the prevalence increased with age. Additionally, clinical characteristics including severity, duration of disease and lesion distribution were significantly different between the lower (aged 7-9 years) and the higher (aged 10-12 years) grades. Subjective features including recognition about acne and treatment-seeking behaviours were also different between the two groups. Overweight or obesity (BMI â‰¥ 25 kg/m(2) at 18 years of age; OR = 2.7) and consumption of chocolates/sweets (OR = 1.6) were significant risk factors for acne.
CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, the prevalence of acne among elementary schoolchildren was high, but only a few children had received treatment. Physicians should be attentive to childhood acne, and educate patients and their parents about the need to treat it.

PMID: 26011595 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26011595?dopt=Abstract = URL to article