Background:

Recently, acne has a growing impact with accompanying psychomorbidity. It effects may be seen not only in adolescence, but also in all age groups. Postadolescent acne is seen in patients over the age of 25 years, regardless of the age of the onset. Etiopathogenesis of postadolescent acne has not been fully elucidated. Several environmental factors are accused including stress, environmental pollution, ultraviolet exposure and smoking. Objective of this study is to evaluate smoking, anxiety, depression and quality of life in patients with postadolescent acne and to shed light on its etiopathogenesis.

Material and Methods:

A total of 227 patients (with 70 postadolescent acne and 157 acne vulgaris) were included in the study. Patients’ gender, age, educational status, marital status, duration and severity of acne were recorded. Grading the severity of acne was made in accordance with the Consensus Conference on Acne Classification. Patients were asked to fill the hospital anxiety and depression scale and SF-36 forms. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20.00 software.

Results:

Eighty-seven percent of patients with postadolescent acne and 58% of those having acne vulgaris were female. Mean age was found as 28.88±4.29 years in patients with postadolescent and 18.55±2.38 years in those with acne vulgaris. Anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher in patients with postadolescent acne (p= 0.01, for each). Social functioning, vitality/energy, general health perceptions, pain and physical functioning scores were lower in patients with postadolescent acne (p=008, p=003, p= 0.001, p< 0.001, p= 0.03; respectively). No significant differeces were found between both groups in terms of mental health, physical and emotional role functioning and physical functioning. There was a statistically significant between the groups in smoking (p=0.01).

Conclusion:

Postadolescent acne is more effective on quality of life compared to acne vulgaris. Anxiety, depression and smoking are more frequently seen among the patients with postadolescent acne. In conclusion; we believe that emotional stress and smoking play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of postadolescent acne.

Keywords: Acne, adult, anxiety, depression, quality of life