The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy

Grimaldi, Marta; Micali, Giuseppe; Bettoli, Vincenzo; Odorici, Giulia; Potenza, Concetta; Musumeci, Maria Letizia; Cacciapuoti, Sara; Giovanardi, Giulia; Agrifoglio, Benedetta; Guerriero, Cristina

doi:10.3390/cosmetics10060146

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy

by

Marta Grimaldi

^1,*,

Giuseppe Micali

²,

Vincenzo Bettoli

³,

Giulia Odorici

³,

Concetta Potenza

⁴,

Maria Letizia Musumeci

²,

Sara Cacciapuoti

⁵

,

Giulia Giovanardi

⁶,

Benedetta Agrifoglio

⁷ and

Cristina Guerriero

^1,*

¹

Institute of Dermatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy

²

Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95123 Catania, Italy

³

Dermatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Anna, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy

⁴

Daniele “Innocenzi” Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Fiorini Hospital, Polo Pontino, 04019 Terracina, Italy

⁵

Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy

⁶

Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy

⁷

Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Cosmetics 2023, 10(6), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10060146

Submission received: 28 September 2023 / Revised: 11 October 2023 / Accepted: 20 October 2023 / Published: 24 October 2023

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Cosmetics in 2023)

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Abstract

Acne vulgaris was one of several diseases whose progression was significantly influenced psychologically by the rapid and protracted alteration of daily routines that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for specific populations like adolescents. In order to assess their psychological impact and the relationship with the progression of acne vulgaris, this study aims to examine the quality of life, stress, anxiety, and depression of acne patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and their care. This observational, multicenter investigation was carried out in five dermatology clinics in Italy. Data were obtained via a remote telephone interview using questionnaires that were approved by a group of dermatologists and psychiatrists. Evaluations included demographic information, treatment status, disease progression, dietary habits, and employment activities. Some 178 acne vulgaris patients in various stages of systemic or topical medication were included in the study: 47 of 178 (26.4%) patients showed high scores on the HADS anxiety subscale, and 41 of 178 (23%) patients showed high scores on the HADS depression subscale. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) was used to measure resilience; 70 patients out of 178 (or 39.3%) showed low resilience (range: 1.00–2.99). In 32 out of 178 patients with PSS, high levels of stress were discovered (18%). Some 50 out of 178 patients experienced alterations in their way of life, including increased acne-related symptoms of relationship humiliation and constraints on everyday activities. Some 52 out of 178 patients (29.2%) said that they felt their condition had gotten worse over the study period. Our findings revealed a potential link between the exacerbation of acne and high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as an elevated sense of stress and low or moderate levels of adaptability and resilience.

Keywords: acne; COVID-19

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MDPI and ACS Style

Grimaldi, M.; Micali, G.; Bettoli, V.; Odorici, G.; Potenza, C.; Musumeci, M.L.; Cacciapuoti, S.; Giovanardi, G.; Agrifoglio, B.; Guerriero, C. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy. Cosmetics 2023, 10, 146. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10060146

AMA Style

Grimaldi M, Micali G, Bettoli V, Odorici G, Potenza C, Musumeci ML, Cacciapuoti S, Giovanardi G, Agrifoglio B, Guerriero C. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy. Cosmetics. 2023; 10(6):146. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10060146

Chicago/Turabian Style

Grimaldi, Marta, Giuseppe Micali, Vincenzo Bettoli, Giulia Odorici, Concetta Potenza, Maria Letizia Musumeci, Sara Cacciapuoti, Giulia Giovanardi, Benedetta Agrifoglio, and Cristina Guerriero. 2023. "The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy" Cosmetics 10, no. 6: 146. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10060146

APA Style

Grimaldi, M., Micali, G., Bettoli, V., Odorici, G., Potenza, C., Musumeci, M. L., Cacciapuoti, S., Giovanardi, G., Agrifoglio, B., & Guerriero, C. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy. Cosmetics, 10(6), 146. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics10060146

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Acne Patients and Their Management: An Observational Multicenter Study from Italy

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