UK among top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of acne

Getty/Anastasia Korchagina

By Ella Pickover and Ian Jones, PA Media

UK teenagers and young people have some of the highest rates of acne in the world, according to a new review.

The UK was among the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of acne diagnosed among adolescents and young people in 2021.

And all countries with the highest rates of doctor-diagnosed acne have seen a rise since 1990, the new report suggests.

In the UK some 14.65% of adolescents and young people were diagnosed with acne, according to the study, which has been published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

This is a rise from 13.57% in 1990, according to the study which looked at data on diagnosis rates among people aged 10 to 24 across 204 countries.

The British Association of Dermatologists (BDA) said the rise in cases could be down to the fact that people are quicker to see a healthcare professional about their acne.

It could also be attributed to environmental or lifestyle factors, the BDA said.