Abstract
Abstract
Valid responses were obtained from 2,434 people (male: 1,226, female: 1,208) of ten to sixty years old via the Internet. Among the respondents, 80.7% had experience of acne (male: 79.0%, female: 82.5%) and more than 80% of male and female respondents had mild acne at the time of the survey. The medical examination rate was 16.8% (male: 14.6%, female: 18.6%). The rate of continuous hospital visits after initial treatment was only 33.3% in females, compared to 65.9% in males. More than 50% of respondents stated that they did not seek treatment at a hospital because they expected spontaneous healing. Regarding prescribed drugs upon hospital visits, oral antibacterial agents were used by 65.8% of males and 43.1% of females, followed by vitamin preparations and traditional Chinese medicine. Topical antibacterial agents were prescribed for 63.2% of males and 49.7% of females. Adapalene was simultaneously prescribed for external use in 34.2% of males and 14.9% of females, and benzoyl peroxide was used by 21.1% of males and 5.4% of females. Monotherapy with an antibacterial drug for external use was prescribed for 23.7% of males and 48.6% of females. The overall satisfaction level with hospital visits was extremely high for 9.5% of males and 10.8% of females. The results of this survey show that patients with acne do not necessarily seek treatment actively, and that doctors may not observe therapeutic guidelines for acne vulgaris. The survey also suggested that information on new drugs for acne and on the importance of maintenance therapy should be provided to patients.
