Objectives: To examine the clinical, quality-of-life, demographic and socio-economic factors that influence treatment seeking behavior in adults with acne vulgaris.

Methods: We designed an observational, cross-sectional survey of students, staff and faculty members of West Virginia University. We administered a web based survey that included pre-validated questions on demographic and socio-economic characteristics, respondents’ subjective assessment of acne severity, duration of acne, acne related quality of life (measured by 4 item Acne Quality-of-Life Scale), pain assessment and treatment seeking behavior. Participants were considered as treatment seekers unless they had “never seen a health professional” for treatment of their facial acne. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors that influenced treatment seeking behavior.

Results: A total of 186 responses were received of which we excluded 28 as these respondents were not currently suffering from facial acne. Majority of study sample (N=158) were females (83%) and Whites (87%). Majority also had access to health care needs such as health care coverage (57%), a person who they considered as personal doctor (60%), a routine medical check-up in the past year (53%). Over-all, 60% of respondents had seen some health professional (pediatrician, dermatologist, both or another type). Higher likelihood of treatment seeking behavior was observed in individuals with a personal doctor or health care provider (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 3.50; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.18, 10.30) and those with higher itchy pain due to acne pimples (AOR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.81). Smaller duration of acne resulted in less likelihood of treatment seeking behavior.

Conclusions: Treatment seeking behavior in this sample of adults with acne vulgaris was driven by access to care and clinical factors such as longer duration and itchy pain rather than acne related quality of life and subjective assessments of severity.