Impact of Acne on Quality of Life in Adolescents of Honduras: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Espinoza-Turcios E.; Chinchilla-Castañeda K.; Sosa-Mendoza C.A.; Zambrano L.I.; Castro-Ramos H.N.; Armada J.; Mejía C.R. · European Journal of Mental Health (2026) · DOI: 10.5708/ejmh.21.2026.0057

Resumen

Introduction: Adolescence represents a period of physical, psychological, and social changes that shape an individual’s personality, potentially influenced by their physical appearance due to shifts in adolescent skin texture. Those with dermatosis (alteration or disease that affects the skin), face an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Aim: To assess differences in acne-related quality of life impact among adolescents according to demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study to identify the factors associated with the consequences of acne in adolescents. A total of 3,272 adolescents aged 12–17 years participated in this study. Participants were recruited using a non-probability snowball sampling strategy and completed a self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms, which included the Cardiff Acne Disability Index. Results: Of the 3,272 participants, 60.0% (n = 1960) were female. Median age was 15 years. In terms of quality of life, 25.8% (n = 845) reported experiencing moderate to high adverse effects. Furthermore, 5.3% reported extremely low mood related to the appearance of their skin during the month preceding the survey. Multivariate analysis indicated that women were more likely to experience medium or high impacts from acne (aPR: 1.33; 95% CI [1.20–1.48]), as well as those of indigenous ethnicity (aPR: 1.36; 95% CI [1.05–1.75]) and those with facial scarring (aPR: 13.08; 95% CI [10.02–17.05]). Conclusions: Females, member of an indigenous ethnic group, individuals with facial scarring, or those with a close relative suffering from acne all suggest medium or high impact on their quality of life.