The Facts Behind The Acne Statistics 2017

Whether you’re just at the start of your acne journey, or have been navigating these waters for a while now, the information you see online and elsewhere may leave you feeling confused. In order to treat your condition, it’s important to understand just how acne affects your skin and body, and what’s really going on when you read those numbers.

What is Acne?

Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, and can affect anyone regardless of age, race, or sex. Acne is attributed to a hormonal imbalance, which can affect the function of the sebaceous glands, whose job it is to create sebum, or oil. This oil travels along the pore to hydrate and protect the skin on the surface. When too much sebum becomes clogged within a pore and pairs with dead skin cells from the surface, bacteria known as P. acnes forms, triggering an inflammatory response from the body. This process is known as the acne cascade, and usually results in red, swollen bumps known as pimples, a symptom of acne.

With so much information out there, we know how overwhelming treatment can be, which is why we decided to back up the stats with some real facts to help you stay informed and on the path toward clear and healthy skin!

The Statistics Behind Acne

1. 60 million people in the U.S. have acne. This number includes all grades of acne, from the mild, occasional breakout to more severe conditions such as cysts, but of those 60 million, 20% have some form of acne bad enough that it results in scarring on the skin. According to research conducted in 2016, 85% of people surveyed have experienced acne at some form or another at some point in their lives, which makes for an overwhelming majority. Women made up for 80% of adult acne cases studied.
2. Over the past 10 years, the average age of an acne sufferer has increased from 20.5 years old to 26.5 years old.
3. Acne can be very harmful for mental health. Of those surveyed, a staggering 96% of people with acne have reported feeling depressed over their condition. This has lead 46% to develop self esteem issues over their complexions, and has caused 31% from declining to participate in social activities, instead opting to stay home. 14% of acne sufferers have even reported feeling suicidal over their skin, a pain that no one should have to face. As you can see from the numbers listed, acne affects a large amount of people, and while it is still certainly stigmatized and the source of embarrassment for many, please know that you are not alone in feeling frustrated or hopeless. If you are overcoming acne, you are embarking on a journey, a process that can take time, but can absolutely improve. If you are feeling suicidal for any reason, please do not hesitate to speak to someone at The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
4. The breakdown: where do most people experience acne? 99% of people get breakouts on the face. 60% see spots on other parts of the body (most usually the back and butt), and 15% have clogged complexions on their chests. People with active lifestyles tend to see more breakouts on their bodies, but additional factors can play a big part in the formation of pimples as well, such as stress, and hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, or puberty. 
5. 30% of acne sufferers rely on over the counter products to “treat” their condition. Americans spend over $3 million dollars a year on acne treatments, and 3 out of every 10 people looking to treat their condition reach for the over the counter topicals to do the trick. While an important part of keeping the surface clean, topical washes and creams, even when medicated, do nothing to actually treat the problem itself, which requires going to the source - the sebaceous glands.

When it comes to acne treatments, AcnEase does what most acne treatments fail to address: it targets the problem from within while maintaining a safe experience at every measure, unlike many prescription options, such as Accutane (which is currently off the market due to a class action suit). AcnEase has shown to successfully improve acne in more than 95% of patients in controlled clinical studies because it treats the problem at its source - the sebaceous glands, by creating a buffer between them and any haywire hormones that might trigger excessive sebum production. Combining our expert knowledge with a love for safe, herbal alternative medicines to deliver a truly effective solution to acne, without the side effects, AcnEase is designed to provide relief for any one of the 60 million people living with active acne, no matter how mild or severe their symptoms may be.

We want to hear from you! Do you have any questions about some of the acne stats you’ve read online? Ask us in the comments!