Prevalence and pattern of acne vulgaris among adolescents in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria

Background Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that commonly affects adolescents. Its prevalence varies widely, with higher figures reported from the developed countries. Recent reports suggest that there might be an increase in prevalence in the developing world. Objective To determine the current prevalence, pattern, and risk factors for acne vulgaris among school adolescents in Nigeria. Patients and methods A total of 464 adolescents were recruited from four (two private and two public) secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria, between September and November 2011. The students were interviewed with the aid of a questionnaire for symptoms and possible risk factors of acne. The participants were examined for acne and the severity of acne was graded using the global acne grading scale. The stress level of the students was evaluated using the perceived stress scale and their BMI was recorded. Results The prevalence of acne was 64.4%. Mild acne was the predominant grade of acne among adolescents. The presence of acne was associated with late adolescent age (Po0.001) and school type (P = 0.013). There was a significant association between BMI and presence of acne (Po0.001), with a higher prevalence of acne among students with higher BMI (underweight, 47%; normal, 65.1%; overweight, 89.3%; and obese, 88.9%). There was no significant association between the stress level of the students and acne prevalence (P = 0.213). Conclusion The prevalence of acne vulgaris appears to be increasing in adolescents in our environment. Increasing age, high BMI, and school type were associated with the risk of developing acne vulgaris. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of diet in these findings.