Nodulocystic acne (Figure 2) is thought to be less common in African Americans than Caucasians based on a study published in 1970 by Wilkins et al26 of 4,654 incarcerated men. Rates of nodulocystic acne were significantly lower in African-American subjects.
Acne was found to be more prevalent in African American, and Hispanic women than in Continental Indian, White, and Asian women in a review of one-sided facial photographs of girls and women aged 10 to 70 from 4 cities. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) was observed in 65% of Black and 48% of Hispanic women.
The highest prevalence of acne was observed in Latin America (23.9%), East Asia2 (20.2%), Africa (18.5%) and the Middle East (16.1%), while the lowest prevalence was observed in Europe (9.7%) and Australia (10.8%).
It has been reported that Asians have a lower prevalence of acne than Caucasians (14, 15). A study in Peru found that Peruvian Indians who were considered to have an Asiatic origin had significantly less acne than Peruvian whites or Mestizos (mixture of white and Indian) (2).
One of the primary reasons why some individuals never experience pimples is due to their genetic makeup. Certain people inherit genes that make them less prone to excessive oil production or the formation of clogged pores, which are common factors contributing to pimples.
The bacteria that cause acne live on everyone's skin, yet one in five people is lucky enough to develop only an occasional pimple over a lifetime.
Acne is a common issue for many people, especially for teenagers and young adults in their 20s. Some have mild symptoms, while others can have very severe issues. Acne effects around 90% of adolescents with the prime age across all genders being the teenage years of 14-19 years old.
While acne affects people across all races, people who are black and have darker skin may experience more severe after-effects of acne, such as skin discoloration, than their peers of other races who have lighter skin, Takeshita said.
Acne is a very common skin condition in Japan, as in other parts of the world.
Women are more likely to have adult acne than men. It's thought that many cases of adult acne are caused by the changes in hormone levels that many women have at certain times. These times include: periods – some women have a flare-up of acne just before their period.
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.
Though it is often thought of as a teenage problem, acne can occur in people of any age, though it grows less common as time goes on. Still, over 25% of women and 12% of men in their 40s report having acne.
Acne is well-known since ancient times and is avowed to affect people even before humans could write. 7,8 Since it has a long history, hence is now known as one of the world's most common skin disorder.
The most prevalent fatty acid in sebum, sapienic acid (16:1, n10), is significantly higher in African Americans and correlated with the higher sebum output in that ethnic group.
Thus previous studies showed a heritability estimate ranging from 50-90% for acne. In other words, approximately 50-90% of acne was due to genetic variation in the affected individuals. A large UK study involving 400 twin pairs showed that 81% of acne was due to genetic factors.
“If you have acne, don't worry, I've got good news - people with acne live longer. People who suffer from acne age slower than those with clear skin, so if you suffer from acne - good for you,” says Sungjemlila Longkumer, an Indian skinfluencer, on an Instagram Reel.
A study of acne in skin of color by Taylor et al27 showed cystic lesions to be present in 18 percent of African-American (n=239), 25.5 percent of Hispanic (n=55), and 10.5 percent of Asian (n=19) patients.
Acne conglobata is a rare but severe form of nodulocystic acne. It usually presents with tender, disfiguring, double or triple interconnecting comedones, cysts, inflammatory nodules, and deep burrowing abscesses on the face, shoulders, back, chest, upper arms, buttocks, and thighs.
Results: Clinical acne was more prevalent in African American and Hispanic women (37%, 32% respectively) than in Continental Indian, Caucasian and Asian (23%, 24%, 30% respectively) women.
Active acne is a common skin condition that can affect individuals of all ethnicities, including those with Hispanic skin.
Dark spots appear when the skin cells produce too much melanin. Hyperpigmentation acne may fade over time, but if the original spots were deep, it may be permanent. Although some topical and surgical therapies can speed up the fading process, it can take several months to years.
Most people have acne on and off for several years before their symptoms start to improve as they get older. Acne often disappears when a person is in their mid-20s. In some cases, acne can continue into adult life. About 3% of adults have acne over the age of 35.
Pustules are a type of pimple that contains yellowish pus. They are larger than whiteheads and blackheads. Home remedies and over-the-counter creams may help treat pustules. Pustules appear either as red bumps with white centers or as white bumps that are hard and often tender to the touch.
Chin acne typically arises when pores around the chin become blocked with excess oil, dead skin cells, or daily grime. This blockage creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, leading to inflammation and the formation of pimples or cysts in the chin area.