ABSTRACT
Acne is an exceedingly common condition affecting millions of adolescents and young
adults. Not surprisingly, the psychological and economic impact of acne is reflected in
these vast numbers. The prevalence in teenage girls ranges from 16-80%, while teenage
boys are even more likely to be affected with prevalence ranging from 29-90% (1-4).
These large variations in prevalence are due to differences in acne grading scales used in
the various studies. Adult acne, although less common than adolescent acne, continues to
be a significant problem for 3-6% of adult men, and 5-12% of adult women well into their
thirties and forties (5,6). With so many persons affected, the economic impact of acne is
immense. In 1999 there were approximately 35 million Americans with acne generating
7.9 million physician visits. That same year approximately 1.2 billion dollars was spent on
prescription acne medications (7).
