What is acne?

Acne is a common skin condition, caused by changes in the skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland. It is characterized by whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red pimples.

How do members experience acne?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with acne*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for acne*

*Data from patients with acne, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with acne*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Accutane)
Perceived effectiveness
for acne (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
acne (6)
Treatment

(Retin-A)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
acne (4)
Treatment

(Doxylin)
Perceived effectiveness
for acne (3 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea nausea
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
acne (3)
Treatment

(Acne Treatment)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
acne (1)
Treatment

(Dalacin T)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
acne (1)

*Data from patients with acne, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has acne on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 18
20s 159
30s 344
40s 227
50s 120
60s 46
70+ 21

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 247
Female 666

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as co-founder Jamie Heywood explains in this video.

What is acne?

Acne is a common skin condition, caused by changes in the skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland. It is characterized by whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed red pimples.



Common symptoms reported by people with acne

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for acne

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Accutane)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
79
Tried for
acne (6)
Treatment name(s)

(Retin-A)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
98
Tried for
acne (4)
Treatment name(s)

(Doxylin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
138
Tried for
acne (3)
Treatment name(s)

(Acne Treatment)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
232
Tried for
acne (1)
Treatment name(s)

(Dalacin T)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
121
Tried for
acne (1)

Data from patients with acne, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with acne

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Accutane)
Perceived effectiveness
for acne (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
acne (6)
Treatment name(s)

(Retin-A)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
acne (4)
Treatment name(s)

(Doxylin)
Perceived effectiveness
for acne (3 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea nausea
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
acne (3)
Treatment name(s)

(Acne Treatment)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
acne (1)
Treatment name(s)

(Dalacin T)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
acne (1)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with acne, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Last updated:



Who has acne on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 4 new patients joined this month
  • 455 say acne is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 18
20s 159
30s 344
40s 227
50s 120
60s 46
70+ 21
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 233
20-29 years 26
30-39 years 11
40-49 years 6
50-59 years 0
60-69 years 0
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 247
Female 666

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 287
Not Diagnosed 84

These charts show data from acne patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: