Prevalence and Psychological Impact of Acne Vulgaris in Female Undergraduate Medical Students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease, affecting approximately 9.4% of the world’s population, with considerable effect on the quality of life. According to a previously conducted study, the prevalence rate of acne in Pakistan was found to be 5%. And to this date, no reliable data is available about the prevalence of acne in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Objectives To determine the prevalence of acne vulgaris and its psycho-social impact on female undergraduate medical students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted during the month of August 2019 among female undergraduate medical students from three randomly selected medical colleges of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The diagnosed cases of acne vulgaris were assessed by using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Results The prevalence of acne vulgaris was found to be 14.47% in female undergraduate medical students of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Sixty percent (n=99) were found to have itchy sores and stinging skin, 66.7% (n=110) were embarrassed by their acne-prone skin, and the social activity of 60% (n=99) of the participants was affected by their active acne. Of the students, 73.9% were not affected by their acne while studying or working. Around 61.2% (n=101) complained that their acne treatment was a problem and hiding it took time or made a mess. Two percent showed a severe impact, with 14% having very large, 44% moderate, 30% low, and the remaining 10% with no effect of acne in their psychosocial functioning. Conclusion Acne vulgaris is a chronic skin disease that considerably affects the psychosocial functioning of female undergraduate medical students. A holistic approach in treating acne requires the participation of a dermatologist and mental health professional.