CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ATROPHIC ACNE SCARS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY

Abstract

Objective: Investigation the clinical characteristics of acne scars and associated factors at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 150 patients diagnosed with atrophic acne scars at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from August 2024 to June 2025. Patients were interviewed using a pre-designed structured data collection form to obtain information on age, sex, occupation, address, disease duration, impact on quality of life, and related factors. A clinical examination was then performed to assess scar severity using the Goodman & Baron scale, as well as to record scar location, color, and morphology.

Results: 54% patients are female. The mean age of patients was 26.5 ± 6.3 years. The average duration of acne was 63.4 ± 36.9 months, and that of scarring was 82.1 ± 57.5 months. The most common occupations were students (36.0%), followed by office workers (19.3%) and businesspeople (13.3%). Regarding scar severity, 48.0% of patients had grade 4 (severe) scars, 34.7% grade 3, and 17.3% grade 2; no cases were classified as grade 1. All patients had facial scars, with the cheeks being the most commonly affected site (93.3%) and the chin being the least (24.7%). Ice-pick scars were the most frequent type (61.3%), while rolling scars presented in the minority of our cohort (18%). The predominant scar color was normal skin tone (56.7%). All patients reported being affected by their scars. There was a statistically significant difference between scar severity and acne severity, duration of acne, and behaviors such as squeezing/picking at lesions (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Atrophic acne scars are common in young individuals and have a substantial impact on patients's quality of life. The severity of scarring was significantly associated with the severity and duration of acne, as well as behavioral factors such as lesion picking. These findings highlight the need for early intervention and education on acne management and skin care.

Keywords: atrophic acne scars, clinical characteristics, associated factors.

Received: 25/7/2025

Revised:12/8/2025

Accepted:21/8/2025

Online published:05/9/2025

Corresponding author: Luong H. Vu, MD, PhD; e-mail: vuhuyluong@hmu.edu.vn