Germany’s teenagers and young people have worst acne, with UK in the top 10, study finds

Germany’s teenagers and young people have the highest rates of acne in the world, according to a major study, with the UK in eighth place.

All of the countries with the highest rates of doctor-diagnosed acne have seen increases in the skin condition since 1990, the report by the British Association of Dermatologists (BDA) said.

In the UK, nearly 15% (14.65%) of adolescents and young people were diagnosed with acne in 2021, up from 13.57% in 1990, according to the study which looked at data on diagnosis rates among people aged 10 to 24 in 204 countries.

But almost 16% (15.98%) of Germans had been diagnosed with acne, according to the study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Portugal, Luxembourg, Norway, Andorra, Denmark, and San Marino are the other countries with higher rates than the UK, but the condition is spreading everywhere except New Zealand, researchers warned.

In Britain’s case, it could be down to people being quicker to see a healthcare professional and environmental or lifestyle factors.

Lead author Dr Zhou Zhu, from the Department of Dermatology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, pointed to other factors such as diet, stress, obesity rates, and rising pollution to explain the growth in cases.

Dr Zhou said researchers did not include the many people who have acne but are managing the conditions themselves – with over-the-counter treatments – “so overall acne rates are actually higher”.

Professor Michael Arden-Jones, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said though common, acne can be severe, and friends, family, and health professionals have an important role to play in providing emotional support, as it can have a negative impact on mental health, especially for teenagers.

He said: “As well as the psychological impact of untreated acne, some people suffer permanent scars. However, there are treatments to limit the impact of the condition.

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“Ideally, this means ensuring they have access to medical advice and acting fast to treat those where it is becoming severe, to prevent scarring.”

Acne ranges from a few spots on the face, neck, back and chest, to a more severe problem with solid painful lumps or cysts under the skin.