Parents of teenagers with severe acne are worried about their child’s physical, emotional, and social wellness and how these factors impact families, according to a recent survey performed by Regina Corso Consulting.
The group performed an online survey from October 29 through November 5, 2020, and determined that 93% of parents who responded are concerned that acne will affect their child physically and mentally. Of these, 93% are worried that their child’s face will be scarred and 88% are worried about their child’s social life and mental health. Parents are also worried about siblings developing acne, how acne impacts the rest of the family, and believe they should have consulted a healthcare professional sooner.
Some parents report that the COVID-19 pandemic and in-home learning helped their children avoid the embarrassment of interacting with peers, but others report that it has caused cyber bullying due to the focus of online instruction on a participant’s face.
"These survey results underscore the importance of teenagers with nodular or cystic acne seeing a dermatologist and starting effective treatment as soon as possible, to avoid the possibility of lifelong physical scars and emotional distress," said Hilary Baldwin, MD, medical director of the Acne Treatment and Research Center in Brooklyn, NY, and past president of the American Acne and Rosacea Society.
"As a board-certified dermatologist, and as a parent of two children who have dealt with severe acne, I can honestly say parents cannot fully understand what their teenagers are going through. Timely intervention can help the child who is suffering from this condition, as well as minimize potential negative impact on their whole family," added D. Baldwin, who is also a clinical associate professor of Dermatology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center. –Lisa Kuhns
Reference
Parents are very worried about the effects of severe acne on their teenage children as reported in a new survey. News release. Sun Pharma. April 7, 2021. Accessed April 26, 2021. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parents-are-very-worried-about-the-effects-of-severe-acne-on-their-teenage-children-as-reported-in-a-new-survey-301263555.html
