%0 Journal Article
%T Quality of Life in Iranian Patients with Acne
%A H. Safizadeh
%A S. Shamsi-Meymandy
%A A. Naeimi
%J Dermatology Research and Practice
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/571516
%X Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of pilosebaceous units. Although the acne isnot a life threatening disease, studies have revealed that it has significant effect on self-image and quality of life. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the health-related quality of life in patients with acne in an Iranian context. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) were used for measuring quality of life, and severity of acne was measured by Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). The mean (¡ÀSD) of DLQI and CADI scores was 6.42 (¡À4.77) and 5.97 (¡À2.97), respectively. Acne influenced the quality of life in 51.8% of patients from moderate to very much, and the quality of life was affected by the severity of acne (P < 0.01). Since acne has significant effects on patient¡¯s quality of life, the management of patients with acne requires more attention to different aspects of quality of life. 1. Introduction Acne vulgaris is the most common chronic inflammatory pilosebaceous disease that presents with formation of comedone, papule, pustule, and nodule. Lesions appear mostly on the face, but neck, chest, upper parts of back, and shoulders may also be involved. It is the most common dermatologic disease in adolescence and adulthood with similar incidence in both genders. The age peak of acne is 17 years old, and in 3% of males and 12% of females, it continues beyond twenty five, while some patients (1% of males and 5% of females) carry it into their forties [1]. This disease is often misunderstood as a simple puberty-related condition by common people and even medical community, while scientific evidence revealed that acne affects patients more than a simple dermatologic disease [2]. It has been observed that social and psychological impacts of acne are sometimes so complicated that cause serious problems in patients¡¯ body image, self-esteem, and socialization and even may lead to feel of anger [3]. Although it is not a life threatening condition, studies have shown that it has serious effects on body image of affected individuals leading to anxiety, depression, and social dysfunction [4, 5]. It has been well recognized that in regard to social and psychological outcomes, acne is comparable with disabling diseases such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, back pain, or arthritis [6]. Dermatologic diseases affect patients¡¯ life by causing pain, itching, disability in daily activities, psychic pressures (low self-esteem, nervousness), problems in social relationships, family problems, and treatment-related problems such as drugs side
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/drp/2012/571516/