TABLE 4.
Qualitative data: Open-ended responses
| EMOTIONAL DISTRESS | |
|---|---|
| LESS EXTREME (AGE, SEX, ACNE GRADE) | MORE EXTREME (AGE, SEX, ACNE GRADE) |
| “I've just been more self-conscious.” (29, F, acne grade 1) “I simply pay more attention at who notices my acne.” (24, F, acne grade 0) “It doesn't really bother me but I seethe acne and feel it. Like I'll stop and think about it.” (18, M, acne grade 3) |
“I used to cry… people would say things to me. Once a woman told me to go to a church where they would ‘purify me.’ It made life very difficult.” (22, F, acne grade 1) “At times it makes me feel sad, embarrassed, ugly, discriminated against, insecure.” (27, F, acne grade 5) “Anger, loss of interest” (20, M, acne grade 3) |
| SOCIAL/OCCUPATIONAL REPERCUSSIONS | |
| LESS EXTREME (AGE, SEX, ACNE GRADE) | MORE EXTREME (AGE, SEX, ACNE GRADE) |
| “I don't like going to the beach much.” (16, M, acne grade 1) “Apprehensive about going out when I have acne breakouts.” (28, F, acne grade 2) “At times when we had meetings, I would shy away from giving presentations.” (35, F, acne grade 3) “While in school, I try to cover my outbreaks whenever possible, distracting me occasionally from my school task.” (16, M, acne grade 3) |
“I don't leave my house to go anywhere as often as I use to.” (43, F, acne grade 2) “I'll avoid talking to people on a day where my skin looks really bad.” (15, F, acne grade 1) “I do not go out to social events at all.” (27, F, acne grade 5) “I avoid anything that meant I wouldn't be able to wear makeup. I definitely felt like my face looked ugly… I felt like I had a disease on my face.” (22, F, acne grade 1) |
| BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATIONS | |
| LESS EXTREME (AGE, SEX, ACNE GRADE) | MORE EXTREME (AGE, SEX, ACNE GRADE) |
| “I always try to keep my hands washed and clean.” (17, M, acne grade 2) “I avoid certain foods (like ice cream).” (24, F, acne grade 4) |
“I feel the need to cover my skin a lot, hide my face if I can.” (18, F, acne grade 4) “I stopped looking in the mirror for awhile.” (25, F, acne grade 3) “Wear hats all the time.” (30, M, acne grade 1) |