Beyond the Face: An Exploratory Survey on Facial and Truncal Acne in High School Students
- Author:
Young Bok LEE
1
;
Minah CHO
;
Hei Sung KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(2):89-97
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:Acne vulgaris commonly affects both the face and trunk, yet truncal acne remains underrecognized and less studied in adolescents.
Objective:This study aimed to assess the prevalence, perceived severity, stress levels, treatment behaviors, and willingness to seek care in adolescents based on acne location.
Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 211 first-year high school students (104 males, 107 females) in Incheon, South Korea. A structured questionnaire captured data on acne location, severity, stress, treatment history, and willingness to seek care. Analyses included descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, t-tests, and Spearman correlation.
Results:Facial acne was reported by 86.7% of participants and truncal acne by 47.4%. The presence of facial and truncal acne was significantly associated (p<0.05), with truncal acne developing approximately one year after facial acne onset (p<0.05). While the mean subjective severity scores for facial (1.61±0.63) and truncal acne (1.57±0.79) were similar (p>0.05), stress levels were significantly higher for facial acne (p<0.05). Treatment rates were substantially lower for truncal acne (17.6%) compared to facial acne (48.6%), despite comparable willingness to seek clinical care.
Conclusion:Truncal acne is common but undertreated in adolescents. Despite comparable willingness to seek care, actual treatment rates remain low, underscoring a critical gap in management. Given the significant co-occurrence and risk of sequelae, clinicians should routinely assess for truncal acne in adolescents with facial acne and adopt a holistic management strategy addressing both areas.
