2019 Volume 68 Issue 2 Pages 339-346
Acne vulgaris (acne) is a common disease experienced by more than 90% of people and is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) due to hyperkeratotic abnormalities and increased sebum secretion. In terms of one’s aesthetics, it has a large psychological effect on the quality of life (QOL). In this research, we aimed to grasp the actual condition of acne treatment in healthy people and epidemiologically investigate and analyze the age-based occurrence of C. acnes. A total of 79 subjects, including 19 teenagers, 20 in their twenties, 20 in their thirties, and 20 in their forties, were sampled and then asked to answer a questionnaire survey. The detection rate of C. acnes in both cheeks was 82.3% of all the subjects. There was no significant difference in the detection rate in terms of age and gender, and C. acnes was detected regardless of age and gender. As for the acne treatment, facial washing was carried out by as many as 50% of the subjects, but 16.4% did not do anything. Medicines prescribed by doctors and drugs purchased at pharmacies were mainly topical agents such as ointments (Clearasil®︎, PAIR®︎). The onset time (awareness) was most frequently observed in their teenage years. As reasons for starting the treatment, they felt worried about the scars of acne (30.2%) and they were self-conscious about how they appear to others (27.9%). Regarding acne prevention and treatment, those in their thirties and forties were more knowledgeable than those in their twenties and teens.
