Acne in Lomé, Togo: clinical aspects and quality of life of patients

Abstract

BackgroundAcne is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the pilosebaceous follicle that mainly affects adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with acne, and to determine the correlation between the QOL and the severity of acne, in Lomé (Togo).MethodFrom July 2017 to February 2018, we conducted a study in three dermatology departments of Lomé. The clinical evaluation of acne and assessment of the QOL were done using the ECLA (Echelle de Cotation des Lésions d’acné) and CADI (Cardiff Acne Disability Index) scores respectively.ResultsWe enrolled 300 patients aged 12 to 52 years; 71.3% of whom were female. The face was affected by acne in 100% of cases and papulopustular acne was the most common clinical form (66.7%). Acne was mild to moderate in 162 patients (54%) and severe in 138 (46%). Impairment was observed in all patients’ QOL (scores ranged from 1 to 14 points). There was a positive correlation between severity of acne and QOL impairment in the patients (r = 0.21; p = 0.0002). We also found a positive correlation between overall CADI score and factors F1 and F3 of the ECLA scale: the severity of facial acne (r = 0.15; p = 0.0073) and the presence of scars (r = 0.21; p = 0.0002). In contrast, the global ECLA score was significantly correlated with items 2, 3, and 5 of the CADI questionnaire: the patient’s relationship (r = 0.13; p = 0.0241), avoidance behaviors (r = 0.21; p = 0.0002) and perception of acne (r = 0.16; p = 0.0067).ConclusionAcne negatively impacts the QOL of patients. The severity of acne has an impact on the patient’s relationships, avoidance behaviors and perception of the acne.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12895-018-0075-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Acne on Pigmented Skin: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Features in Dermatology in Benin

“…It has been reported by some authors that people with pigmented skin often develop severe acne [3] [7] [8]. The majority of our patient had moderate (43.5%) and severe (34.7%) acne, compared with South Africa and French, where mild to moderate acne predominated [2] [16].…”

“…The low proportion of adolescents may be explained by the fact that acne is a condition neglected by parents who consider it a normal physiological phenomenon in adolescents [3] [4] [7]. So our sample couldn't represent the whole population.…”

“…Histopathological images demonstrate an exaggerated inflammatory response even in non-inflammatory lesions [2] [8] [9]. This would explain the high frequency of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentations on pigmented skin [3] [7] [11].…”

“…This delay was also noted during our study because the median consultation time was 5.1 years ± 7.1 years. In this case, this inflammatory predominance is the consequence of self-medication based on bad cosmetics or drugs [3] [4] [12] [15]. The latter would be source of aggravation of primary lesions evolving to hyperpigmented scars (70.5%) after excoriation (48.1%) of the primary lesions.…”

Acne and psychiatric comorbidities in Lomé (Togo): case-control study

“…Two studies focused on acne in Togo; one aimed essentially at making the clinical description but also the impact of artificial depigmentation on acne [8], the other sought to evaluate the quality of life of acne patients [9]. The purpose of this study was to document the link between acne and depression and anxiety in patients consulting dermatology.…”