Epidemiology

Acne vulgaris is a common condition. A global estimate of prevalence of 20.5% has been reported.[9] The highest prevalence rates have been demonstrated in adolescents/young adults (16-24 years) at 28.3%, but it is also relatively high for adults (25-39 years) at 19.3%.[9] Some evidence suggests that acne is most common between the ages of 12 and 24 years.[10]

Prevalence varies between geographic regions with the highest rates reported in Latin America (23.9%), followed by Africa (18.5%), compared with the lowest rate which is reported in Europe (9.7%).[9] One study demonstrated that people with mixed ethnicity have the highest risk of acne with a prevalence of 24.3%, followed by people from an Asian background at 19.4%, people from a black background 21%, and people from a white background at 11.6%.[9]

Acne is more prevalent in females than males, one study reported a prevalence rate of 23.6% for females compared with 17.5% in males, and the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 demonstrated that the age-standardized prevalence rate of acne vulgaris was approximately 25% higher in young women than in young men (10 911.8 per 100,000 population vs. 8727.8 per 100,000 population).[9][11]​​ However, there is some evidence to suggest that males tend to have more severe acne.[12][13]

The prevalence of acne vulgaris has increased in nearly all countries since the 1990s. Globally, the age-standardized prevalence rate of acne vulgaris among adolescents and young adults increased from 8563.4 per 100,000 population in 1990 compared with 9790.5 per 100,000 population in 2021.[11]

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