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Table 2 Responses of Teenagers and Adults on Their Experiences with Acne

From: Psychosocial judgements and perceptions of adolescents with acne vulgaris: A blinded, controlled comparison of adult and peer evaluations

How important to you is the way you look? (For respondents over age 18 with teen children: How important is personal appearance to your teen?)

 

Teens

Adults

Response

n

%

n

%

Extremely important

415

41%

90

43%

Somewhat important

509

51%

101

49%

Important net

924

92%

191

92%

Not very important

67

7%

16

8%

Not at all important

15

1%

1

< 1%

Not important net

82

8%

17

8%

How important is the way you look to your parent(s) or guardian(s)? (For respondents over age 18 with teen children: How important is your teen's personal appearance to you?)

Extremely important

249

25%

57

27%

Somewhat important

377

37%

130

63%

Important net

626

62%

187

90%

Not very important

271

27%

20

10%

Not at all important

109

11%

1

< 1

Not important net

380

38%

21

10%

What's the most difficult aspect of puberty?

Getting acne

554

55%

451

45%

Your body changing

217

22%

403

40%

Body odor

125

12%

41

4%

Your voice changing

37

4%

24

2%

Other

73

7%

83

8%

Which of the following do you think is the most difficult to have in high school?

Extra weight

568

56%

529

53%

Acne

339

34%

407

41%

Braces

67

7%

41

4%

Glasses

32

3%

25

2%

Have you ever had acne?

Yes, and I still Have it

543

54%

NA

NA

Yes, but I don't currently have it

282

28%

NA

NA

No

181

18%

NA

NA

Which of the following best describes your acne most of the time? (Among respondents who have ever had acne). (For respondents over 18 with teen children: Which of the following best describes your teen's acne most of the time?)

Severe: Numerous red and inflamed pimples cover large parts of my face or other parts of my body

59

7%

9

9%

Moderate: Pimples are frequent, inflamed, and red

336

41%

55

52%

Mild: Occasional pimples that clear up on their own

430

52%

41

39%

If you have ever had acne, which of the following best describes you?

My acne existed only as a teenager

NA

NA

310

31%

My acne lasted into adulthood before disappearing

NA

NA

131

13%

My acne lasted into adulthood, and I still have it

NA

NA

202

20%

I have never had acne

NA

NA

359

36%

Did your acne bother you more as a teen, or as an adult? (Among respondents who had acne both as teens and adults)

Teen

NA

NA

212

64%

Adult

NA

NA

121

36%

Have you ever been embarrassed by your acne? (Among respondents who have ever had acne)(For respondents over 18 with teen children: Have you ever been embarrassed by your teen's acne?)

Yes

527

64%

18

17%

No

298

36%

87

83%

Do your parents or other adults in your life have acne?

Yes

378

38%

NA

NA

No

628

62%

NA

NA

About what percentage of your friends have acne? Your best guess is fine.

Response

n

%

n

%

None

50

5%

NA

NA

1-9%

173

17%

NA

NA

10-19%

111

11%

NA

NA

20-29%

119

12%

NA

NA

30-49%

133

13%

NA

NA

50-69%

203

20%

NA

NA

70-99%

195

19%

NA

NA

100%

22

2%

NA

NA

Which of the following would you be willing to do if you could get rid of your acne forever? Please choose all that apply. (Among respondents who have ever had acne)

Stay off Facebook for a year

485

59%

NA

NA

Not go on a date for a year

247

30%

NA

NA

Take my mom or dad as a date to my prom

109

13%

NA

NA

Have my grade point average drop a lot

91

11%

NA

NA

Other

123

15%

NA

NA

Which of the following, if any, have you ever done to address your teen's acne? (Among respondents whose teen children have acne)

Encouraged a proper skincare regimen such as washing their face twice a day

NA

NA

78

74%

Purchased medication over the counter

NA

NA

74

70%

Taken them to a doctor for guidance or a prescription treatment

NA

NA

43

41%

Made changes in their diet such as avoiding chocolate or caffeine

NA

NA

29

28%

Other

NA

NA

3

3%

I haven't done anything to address my teen's acne

NA

NA

6

6%

Which of the following, if any, did you do to address your acne as a teenager? Please choose all that apply. (Among respondents who had acne as teens and adults)

Purchased medication over the counter

NA

NA

352

55%

Started a proper skincare regimen such as washing my face twice a day

NA

NA

345

54%

Visited a doctor for guidance or a prescription treatment

NA

NA

148

23%

Made changes in my diet such as avoiding chocolate or caffeine

NA

NA

144

22%

Other

NA

NA

19

3%

I didn't do anything to address my acne as a teenager

NA

NA

98

15%

Which of the following have you ever done to deal with your acne?

(Among respondents who have ever had acne)

Popped or picked it

638

77%

485

75%

Applied over-the-counter acne medication

481

58%

466

72%

Applied hot water or steam to your face

398

48%

269

42%

Applied rubbing alcohol

280

34%

232

36%

Used a prescription medication

274

33%

173

27%

Applied another substance not intended for acne, such as baking soda or toothpaste

225

27%

142

22%

Other

40

5%

23

4%

I have never done anything to deal with my acne

28

3%

31

5%

Which of the following have you ever done to hide your acne?

(Among respondents who have ever had acne)

Used concealer or other makeup to cover it

398

48%

336

52%

Tried to comb or style hair over it

343

42%

136

21%

Refused to get your picture taken

192

23%

119

19%

Avoided social situations, such as a party

168

20%

138

21%

Covered it with clothing, such as a scarf or hat

104

13%

38

6%

Worn a band-aid over it

66

8%

67

10%

Cancelled a date

52

6%

34

5%

Other

13

2%

5

1%

None of these

198

24%

201

31%

Have you ever sought advice from a doctor for your acne?

(Among respondents who have sought medical advice for their acne)

Yes

261

32%

203

32%

No

564

68%

440

68%

How many different types of prescription acne treatment have you tried? Please think of treatments such as creams, pills, gels, and washes.

(Among respondents who have sought medical advice for their acne)

None

8

3%

9

4%

1

25

10%

37

18%

2

51

20%

51

25%

3-4

76

29%

48

24%

5-9

56

21%

31

16%

10 or more

45

17%

27

13%

Which of the following best describes the majority of prescription acne treatments you've tried? (Among respondents who have sought medical advice for their acne and tried treatment)

They completely cleared my skin

17

7%

24

12%

A major improvement, but my skin wasn't completely clear

57

23%

35

18%

A noticeable improvement, but I still had some acne

74

29%

59

30%

A little improvement, but not much

84

33%

59

30%

No improvement

21

8%

17

9%

How effective was the best prescription acne treatment you've ever tried? (Among respondents who have sought medical advice for their acne and tried treatment)

Extremely effective

70

28%

46

24%

Somewhat effective

142

56%

111

57%

Effective Net

212

84%

157

81%

Not very effective

31

12%

33

17%

Not at all effective

10

4%

4

2%

Not effective net

41

16%

37

19%

Which of the following reasons have you ever had for not treating your acne or putting off treatment of your acne? Please choose all that apply. (Among respondents who have ever had acne)

My acne is or was not severe enough to require treatment

340

41%

327

51%

Acne treatments I've used in the past haven't worked

277

34%

123

19%

It's too expensive

206

25%

201

31%

Acne treatments are too expensive

196

24%

166

26%

I've heard acne treatments do not work

177

21%

59

9%

I'm afraid of possible side effects

156

19%

73

11%

Other

37

4%

20

3%

None of these

111

13%

94

15%

  1. Abbreviation: NA, not applicable, this question was not asked of this study group of participants. Survey questions are in italics.