British teens are among the spottiest in the world, an analysis of over 200 countries suggests.
The UK ranked eighth globally for acne diagnosis with 14 per cent of adolescents and young people suffering unsightly blemishes that can severely impact self-esteem.
However, it was Germany who hosted the spottiest teenagers on Earth with almost 16 per cent diagnosed with acne.
This was followed by those in Portugal and Luxembourg with acne rates just above 15 per cent.
In contrast, Romanian teens and young adults had the clearest skin with just 5.07 per cent suffering from acne.
Albania and North Macedonia also enjoyed low acne prevalence with rates also just above 5 per cent.
The UK ranked eighth globally for acne diagnosis with 14.65 per cent, nearly one in six, adolescents and young people suffering from the unsightly blemishes that can be the bane of a young person’s life and severely impact their self-esteem
American teens, while not the least spotty in the world, still enjoyed overall low rates of acne at just 8.36 per cent, a rank of 159th.
The study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology and which looked at data from 2021, also found that almost all of the 204 countries surveyed had seen a rise in acne diagnosed among people aged 10 to 24 since 1990.
For the UK the acne prevalence had increased from 13.57 per cent at the start of the 90s.
While the study didn’t specifically examine why acne rates had increased, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) said it could be due to environmental or lifestyle factors.
However, they added the rise could also simply be down to more people seeking professional help for their skin problems, leading to an increase in official acne diagnoses rather than the issue itself becoming more common.
BAD added that the figures are also likely to be an underestimation of acne prevalence due to only recording officially diagnosed cases.
The proportion of British adolescents actually suffering from acne iss likely close to 95 per cent if you include people who didn’t seek treatment and an official diagnosis from a dermatologist, the body said.
In the latest study, led by researchers from Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China, acne rates were found to increase in all 204 countries surveyed with the exception of New Zealand.
In addition to Germany, Portugal and Luxembourg, Norway, Andorra, Denmark and San Marino also recorded higher acne rates than Britain.
Lead author Dr Zhou Zhu, an expert in dermatology at Peking, said: ‘Acne rates among adolescents and young adults have gradually increased in nearly all countries since the 1990s.
‘Our research didn’t look at why this is, but it could be linked to lifestyle factors like diet, stress, obesity rates, increased exposure to pollution from urbanisation, or simply a greater likelihood of seeking treatment.
‘It is plausible that, as healthcare becomes more accessible in countries, reported acne rates increase. This is unlikely to be the only factor though, as even in countries with good access to healthcare, cases have increased.
‘We only looked at healthcare data, which would not include the many people who have acne but are managing the conditions themselves, so overall acne rates are actually higher.’
Professor Michael Arden-Jones, academic vice president of the BAD, added: ‘This study provides more evidence that the number of acne cases seen by doctors is increasing.
‘While many people manage acne themselves using over-the-counter treatments, it is also a common reason for seeing a GP or a dermatologist.’
He also emphasised that acne while common among teens and young adults, could have a serious impact on their wellbeing.
‘Acne is a common condition, but it can be severe. Friends and family have an important role to play, as do health professionals in providing emotional support, as it can have a negative impact on mental health, especially for teenagers,’ he said.
‘As well as the psychological impact of untreated acne, some people suffer permanent scars. However, there are treatments to limit the impact of the condition.
‘Ideally, this means ensuring they have access to medical advice and acting fast to treat those where it is becoming severe, to prevent scarring.’
Acne ranges from a few spots on the face, neck, back and chest, to a more severe problem with solid painful lumps or cysts under the skin.