Teenagers with persistent acne could have more to worry about than social mockery as they grow older and look for work, according to new research.
In a randomized national study of 1,357 people, participants reported a greater desire for social distance from adults with acne pictured in a series of photographs — expressing less comfort being friends, having physical contact, dating, posting a photo on social media and hiring the individual for a job. The study was published Wednesday in JAMA Dermatology.
Images of people with darker skin tones and more severe cases of acne provoked stronger stigma responses, a team of six researchers found.
“We also found greater stereotype endorsement, with greater likelihood to rate the individuals with acne as having poor hygiene, being unattractive, unintelligent, unlikable, immature and untrustworthy,” Dr. John S. Barbieri, the study’s lead researcher and a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told The Washington Times. “We found that these stigmatizing attitudes were greater for the photographs of individuals with dark skin.”
Dr. Barbieri, who also serves as an editor at JAMA Dermatology, said the findings call for more research into the effects of “underlying racism or colorism,” as well as efforts to “reduce stigmatizing attitudes.”
Dr. Barbieri presented stock photographs of a man and a woman with light skin and a man and a woman with dark skin. Researchers digitally enhanced the images with a range of mild to severe acne, displaying one of 12 images to each participant in an online research forum.
For example, while 18% of participants said they wouldn’t want to date someone with mild acne, 27% said the same when the image was enhanced to show severe acne. And while 2% said they would not hire someone with mild acne, 6% said the same of a person with severe acne.
Another 3% said they would not want to touch someone with mild acne, compared with 8% who said the same of someone with severe acne.
According to the researchers, the results refute the common assumption that acne is merely a cosmetic issue.
“Our results highlight that those with acne can experience meaningful stigma at school, in the workplace and in their personal relationships,” Dr. Barbieri said. “Therefore, it is important to ensure adequate access to care for acne and there is a need to identify approaches to reduce stigmatizing attitudes in the community.”
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that this study received federal funding. While Dr. Barbieri is supported by a federal grant, the money did not support this particular study.