Prevalence of Acne Vulgaris in Adolescents and Young Adults in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Acne vulgaris affects 9.4% of the global population, primarily targeting teenagers, and persists into adulthood. It is considered a major health challenge in Saudi Arabia due to its high prevalence, but there is a lack of studies in Al-Baha City, Saudi Arabia. Therefore, our goal is to estimate the prevalence of acne vulgaris in Al-Baha, which, in turn, may guide the education of those who are affected and help develop preventive measures. Methodology This is an observational cross-sectional study targeting adolescents and young adults in Al-Baha. The data was collected using an online version of a questionnaire designed to achieve the study's objectives. Data was collected in Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and imported into R software version 4.2.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, https://www.R-project.org/). Result Approximately 70.2% (n=641) of the participants either currently have or have experienced acne, with the majority experiencing it on their faces (92%, n=451). The likelihood of experiencing acne was higher among individuals aged 23-25 years and females. The majority of participants assessed their acne as moderate (65%, n=292). Severe acne was associated with a higher risk of low mood and low self-esteem (p < 0.001). Conclusion Almost two-thirds of the participants (70.2%, n=641) reported either currently having or having experienced acne. Therefore, awareness should be raised about acne vulgaris and its management.