Adolescents' beliefs and perceptions of acne vulgaris: A cross-sectional study in Montenegrin schoolchildren

Milena Ražnatović Đurović; Janko Janković; Milica Đurović; Jelena Spirić; Slavenka Janković

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253421

Adolescents' beliefs and perceptions of acne vulgaris: A cross-sectional study in Montenegrin schoolchildren

PLoS One. 2021 Jun 16;16(6):e0253421. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253421. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Milena Ražnatović Đurović^{1

2}, Janko Janković³, Milica Đurović¹, Jelena Spirić⁴, Slavenka Janković⁵

Affiliations

¹ Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro.
² Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro.
³ Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
⁵ Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.

Abstract

Background: Acne is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease with a high prevalence in adolescent and early adult years. The aim of this study was to assess the self-perceived beliefs of Montenegrin secondary school pupils regarding the acne aggravating and ameliorating factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey of the pupils was conducted during October and November 2020 in four randomly selected public secondary schools in Podgorica, Montenegro. All 500 pupils were asked to fill in a questionnaire that included questions on age, sex, presence of acne, perceived acne aggravating and ameliorating factors, and sources of their information about acne.

Results: A total of 500 pupils, 234 (46.8%) boys, and 266 (53.2%) girls, aged 14-17 years, participated in the study. Acne was self-reported in 249 (49.8%) pupils, whereas 251 (50.2%) did not report acne. Factors most often believed to aggravate acne were inadequate face washing (85.0%), hormones (84.0%), sweets (82.0%), greasy food (72.6%), makeup (71.2%), and stress (67.8%). Overall the most prevalent acne ameliorating factors were cosmetic treatment (80.4%), increased water consumption (77.6%), a diet change to a healthier food choice (77.4%), and being on school holidays (62.2%). Girls reported more frequently that genetics, stress, sweets consumption, inadequate face wash, and makeup are acne exacerbating factors, whilst cosmetic treatment, increased water consumption, smoking, and being on school holidays are acne ameliorating factors. Boys more frequently considered the benefit of losing weight. There was no statistically significant difference between pupils with and without acne in perceived factors, except for cosmetic treatment. Those with acne more frequently believed in the benefits of cosmetic treatment.

Conclusions: Many adolescents' self-perceived beliefs about factors that aggravate and ameliorate acne are myths and misconceptions without evidence-based justification. More efforts are needed to educate pupils about the acne aggravating and ameliorating factors, its health-related consequences, and the treatment possibilities.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acne Vulgaris / etiology
Acne Vulgaris / psychology*
Adolescent
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Montenegro
Risk Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja RS, project No 200110). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.