Why adults with acne don’t seek treatment

It’s no surprise that it’s not just teenagers who suffer from acne, what is surprising however is that only a quarter of adults with acne seek treatment, according to research out of the United States by Baird E et al. 

The results of the online survey, which were published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, showed that out of the 1,000 adult respondents who suffer from acne, 53.7 per cent of them said the main reason they didn’t seek treatment was that they believed their condition would clear up on its own.

Further to this, treatment costs were also a concern for 35.2 per cent of respondents. 

On a more positive note, of those who used over-the-counter products, almost 60 per cent did not seek further treatment as they were satisfied with these treatment options, many of them citing topical benzoyl peroxide, retinoids and salicylic acid-containing products as effective when it came to resolving their condition. 

Interestingly, researchers noted differences in the responses depending on how each candidate perceived their acne.  

Those with moderate to severe acne were less likely to say that they could not be bothered or that they thought the acne would clear without intervention. 

According to All About Acne expert Dr JoAnn See said this research would give healthcare providers greater insight into how to better support and assist adults with acne. 

Dr See suggested that all healthcare providers should initiate an open dialogue with patients that they visually observe to have acne, even if the patients do not bring it up as a concern.

Reference: Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 2022, August, 29; 1-3.