DISCUSSION

This study revealed a statistically significant impairment of QOL in a large percentage of the adolescents, showing that, the presence of facial acne vulgaris negatively impacts on QOL of Nigerian adolescents. This is similar to the report of the only study of QOL in Nigeria where CADI was used for QOL assessment in adolescents with acne vulgaris [7] and at variance with a study from Serbia where QOL was not impaired in most of the adolescents’ studied [6]. In this study, QOL impairment was mild. The mild impairment of QOL in theses adolescents may have been due to clinical severity of acne being mild in most of these adolescents. Also, the fact that, their friends had acne may have made them to be less concerned. Some adolescents in this study demonstrated no impairment of QOL and this was not unexpected as not everybody is affected by the appearance of their face especially in this young age group. The results in this study is comparable to that in other studies of QOL in adolescents acne, where QOL impairment is found to be mild and QOL was not impaired in some adolescents [6-8,12].

Specific aspects of QOL affectation

Specific responses to the items on the CADI concerning QOL affectation revealed embarrassment, aggression and frustration from having acne although, the percentage report was low. These adolescents may have had these negative feelings as the face is the most obvious part of any human being and most people want a smooth face. More females in this study felt embarrassed than the males. Females are much more likely than males at this age to be interested in their appearance thus and more embarrassed by blemishes on their face low percentage report of embarrassment was the result of from other studies [6-8]. However, Jankovic et al. [6] in their study also found more females reporting embarrassment from acne. Interference with social life and avoidance of public facilities was reported by a low percentage of the adolescents. This low percentage report of interference with social life may be due to the fact that the predominant form of facial acne in adolescents is mild with minimal scarring of the face. This study however, reveals that in some adolescents, presence of acne can led to social inhibition. Social life affectation in a low percentage of adolescents has also been noted in other studies [6-8]. Avoidance of public changing facilities for swimming or physical education was not very much affected in this study with only 15.9% of the adolescents reporting this. This study is on facial acne vulgaris and the face is already exposed. This may have been responsible for the low report of avoidance of public changing facilities. Also, this study did not specifically lookout for how many people participate in sporting activities. It is not known if this low report of influence of facial acne vulgaris on of public changing facilities is due to a low participation in sporting activities. A similar study of QOL in adolescents with acne vulgaris reported a low response on the item on avoidance of public changing facilities as in this study [7]. Almost equal proportions of respondents registered some concern about their skin appearance and saw their acne as a problem. Of those that saw their acne as a problem, most saw the skin problem as little. This study shows that, some adolescents with facial acne are concerned about the appearance of their skin and think their skin is a problem. It is not unlikely that these adolescents are teased by their peers in school, making them self-conscious and worried about the appearance of their skin. Walker et al. [8] in their study reported occasional concern about the skin in adolescents. However, Ogedengbe et al. [7] in their study reported as in this study, a high percentage concern about the appearance of the skin. The study by Walker et al was on Caucasian skin unlike this study and that by Ogedendgbe et al. [7] which are on dark skin types. The scars of acne tend to be more obvious on the dark skin. On the item on how bad the adolescents thought their pimples was now; more than half of the adolescents thought that their pimples was presently bad. The proportion of females reporting this was slightly higher than that in the males. A high proportion of adolescents in this study thought that the pimples on their face were bad despite the clinical assessment of mild acne in most of them. These adolescents may have felt this way because they did not have a smooth face which is the desire of most people. Also they may have been teased by their peers or had uncomplimentary comments made about their face. The females also may have had a slightly higher percentage report compared to the males because, although undocumented, females are said to be more self-conscious and more concerned about their appearance compared to males. Jancovic et al like in this study noted more female report of how bad the acne was [6]. Ogedengbe et al. [7] reported a high impairment in this variable. They thought that, this question allowed for more articulation of thoughts than the other questions leading to high percentage impairment. On the other hand, in a study in Scotland, the authors reported a low response of how bad the adolescents thought their skin was [8]. The reason for this difference in percentage report maybe due to the fact that, QOL is a subjective phenomenon which is affected differently in different individuals. Previous studies on QOL of life in adolescents in Nigeria are at variance with some of the results of this study [18,19]. Yahaya [18] in Kaduna reported no effect on social life by acne and in Ife [19], the adolescents were not bothered that they had acne. The reason for this difference in response between this study and the other Nigerian studies can be adduced to the use of different instruments. A disease specific instrument (CADI) was used in this study while non-standardized instruments were used in the other Nigerian studies. The only Nigerian study where CADI was used [7] reveals comparable results to this study on some of the variables assessed.

Relationship between the quality of life and variables

Severity of adolescent facial acne was found in this study to correlate with QOL impairment. Severe acne implies more lesions on the face and presence of inflammatory acne. These groups of adolescents are also more likely to seek treatment with people constantly commenting on the appearance of their face. All of this will cumulatively lead to a worse QOL impairment with severe acne. This study report is at variance with that from Hong Kong, in which, Law et al. [23] reported no strong correlation between acne severity and QOL impairment but in agreement with studies from Nigeria and Malaysia [7,10]. There was a lack of correlation between gender and QOL impairment in this study. This lack of correlation is difficult to explain in this study. Although as already discussed above, looking at specific items of QOL impairment, females were found to be more embarrassed at having acne. Ogedengbe et al. [7] reported no gender difference in QOL impairment as in this study but Yeung et al. [25] and Jankovic et al. [6] found females to have a worse QOL than males. Family history of acne was found to significantly impair QOL. Adolescents, who have a family history of acne, have seen family members having acne and being treated for acne. They may have realized that acne is a chronic skin lesion and known that treatment is not a one off thing. They may also have seen family members who had severe acne with scarring and may fear having the same lesions. This may have led to the significant QOL affectation. Other studies on adolescent acne have not looked at the relationship between family history of acne and QOL impairment and so it was difficult to compare this finding with another study.

History of previous treatment of facial acne vulgaris was significantly associated with QOL impairment. It is postulated that, adolescents who have had treatment may have gotten tired of the long duration it takes for clearance of acne lesions and this age group is usually not associated with patience. Also, the cost of treatment may have contributed to this impairment of QOL. There was no study to compare this finding with as it has not been documented in other studies of adolescent acne.

CONCLUSION

Facial acne vulgaris is associated with QOL impairment and this impairment is mostly mild. Specifically, facial acne vulgaris leads to embarrassment, feelings of aggression, negative feelings about appearance of the skin and how bad acne on the face is. History of previous treatment of acne, severity of acne and family history of acne negatively impacts on QOL. Gender does not influence QOL impairment in adolescents who have acne.