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Review
. 2024 Sep;17(9):16-22.

Is Acne the Same Around the World?

Andrew Alexis  1 , Jerry Tan  2 , Marco Rocha  3 , Delphine Kerob  4 , Ann'Laure Demessant  4 , Fatimata Ly  5 , Yan Wu  6 , Mukta Sachdev  7 , Ichiro Kurokawa  8
Affiliations
Review

Is Acne the Same Around the World?

Andrew Alexis et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Acne is a common skin disease associated with a range of sequelae. These include scarring and dyspigmentation, emotional and psychosocial disturbances, and occupational problems, in part because acne often manifests on the face, in addition to other body areas, and is highly visible. Worldwide, the prevalence of acne is estimated at 9.4 percent; it is most common in adolescents but also affects a relatively high proportion of adults. Early studies of acne epidemiology were conducted primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. In more recent decades, data have been increasing for other areas of the world. There has also been more attention devoted to how acne may present and be managed in individuals with skin of color (i.e., the broad and diverse range of populations that self-identify as belonging to a non-White racial/ethnic group and share characteristics such as higher skin phototypes and propensity toward hyperpigmentation). This review seeks to highlight aspects of acne that may be unique to skin of color.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris; ethnicity; race; skin of color.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES: Dr Alexis has served as a consultant and/or advisory board member for Leo, Novartis, Galderma Laboratories LP, Sanofi Regeneron, Dermavant, Unilever, Beiersdorf, Valeant, L’Oreal, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Scientis, Bausch Health, UCB, Arcutis, Janssen, Allergan, Almirall, AbbVie, and Sol-Gel. Dr Tan has received grants, honoraria, or served as a consultant for Bausch, Boots Walgreens, Cipher, Cutera, Galderma, La Roche Posay, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, and Pfizer. Dr Rocha has served as an advisor and/or received honoraria from Galderma, Pierre-Fabre, Eucerin, La Roche Posay, and Leo Pharma. Dr Kerob and Dr Demessant are employees of L’Oreal. Dr Ly has served as consultant and received honoraria from La Roche Posay. Pr Wu and Dr Sachdev have served consultants for L’Oreal. Dr. Kurokawa has received research grants from Aisin Corporation and served as a consultant for L’Oreal.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Clinical photo showing surface skin oiliness in a woman with Fitzpatrick type VI skin.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Facial acne with atrophic acne scarring and PIH also present in woman with Fitzpatrick type V skin.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.
Change in the average number of PIH marks at D56 with D-Eff cleansing gel and cream twice daily (P<0.001 vs. baseline).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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