Study shows widespread, unrecognized acne in 35-year-old Finnish women

Study shows widespread, unrecognized acne in 35-year-old Finnish women

Acne in adults is more common than often thought. According to a study by the University of Oulu, around 31 percent of 35-year-old Finnish women have acne on their face or back. But many people don't recognize their symptoms and acne often goes untreated.

Almost 1,900 women took part in the study, each of whom had their faces and backs photographed without make-up. Dermatologists used the images to assess the presence and severity of the acne.

Acne was most common on the face, affecting 26 percent of participants. About 12 percent had acne on their back and 6 percent had both facial and back acne.

Facial symptoms were particularly concentrated on the lower parts of the face, most commonly the chin and cheeks.

The results show that acne is not limited to the face, as back acne is surprisingly common. However, it can easily go unnoticed unless the patient is undressed for examination or mentions it themselves. Skin changes on the back can be mistaken for harmless hot spots, although they are often acne. Both facial and back acne can result in permanent scarring if left untreated.”

Suvi-Päivikki Sinikumpu, specialist in dermatology and allergology

Most cases of acne in the study were mild, but more than one in ten participants also had a moderate form. Very few had severe acne.

Many people don't recognize their acne

According to the study, participants were unaware of their own acne. Only about a third of women whose acne was diagnosed by a doctor said they were affected by it themselves. For back acne, detection was even lower.

This was also reflected in treatment behavior: both over-the-counter and prescription acne medications were reportedly used only sparingly. Oral antibiotics and isotretinoin have been used very rarely, even for more severe forms of acne, although they have been shown to be effective and safe treatments.

According to the researchers, poor symptom recognition may partly explain why adult acne often goes untreated.

Acne in adults is worth treating

Although acne is often thought of as a teenage problem, it is becoming increasingly common among adult women. Researchers note that acne symptoms in adults are typically concentrated on the chin and cheeks. On the other hand, adult acne may not be much different in appearance from teenage acne, and in both groups acne can also appear on the back.

"Even mild acne can significantly affect well-being and mood, and adult acne has been shown to have an even greater impact on quality of life than teenage acne. For this reason, its treatment deserves attention. Acne lesions can also be painful," notes Sinikumpu.

The researchers recommend that healthcare professionals address the issue of acne more in adult patients. “Patients may go unmentioned about skin symptoms because they think doctors consider them trivial problems,” Sinikumpu reflects.

The study was published in the international journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica.

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