How Acne Can Affect You  |  Treatment of Acne in Africans  | Acne: Treatment Challenges

How to Manage Acne in African Skin: Tips and Natural Remedies

By Chinedu Akpa. B. Pharm. Freelance Health Writer and DLHA Volunteer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA Team

Acne spots on the left face of a black woman

Highlights

• Acne affects both men and women, but men are more affected due to the presence of a chemical known as androgen.

• The psychological impact of acne can be worse than the physical lesion as it persists long after the lesions are gone.

• There are contributory and direct causes of acne.

• The presence of melanin (an abundant pigment in black skin) can complicate acne treatment.

• Acne treatment options include standard oral and topical medications, as well as natural remedies.

• Combination treatments are typically encouraged, particularly in cases of resistance.

Introduction

Have you ever been described as that person with pimples on their face, the bumps on your face being used as a "landmark" to describe or identify you? You can imagine how upsetting that could be. For others, constant picking at their faces in an attempt to burst acne lesions has become an obsession that provides some relief. These realities have become the tales of many living with acne. This article intends to dig deeper into this disorder, and bring you more clarity about it.  

How common is Acne in Africa?

Acne was once thought to be a skin problem limited to adolescents, but the adult prevalence is now estimated to be 40%. [1] The prevalence of this skin condition in Sub-Saharan Africa varies by country. Adult acne prevalence is estimated to be 30.7% in Togo, 31.8% in Benin, and 42% in Cameroon. [1]

Acne can develop in people as young as age 7 and last into adulthood, or it can appear for the first time in adulthood. Adult adolescent males are more likely to be affected than females, but females are more likely to develop the disorder after adolescence. [2]

Acne has also been found to be more common in urban areas than in rural communities, with Africans and Asians developing the more severe forms. However, complications such as high pigmentation are commoner in dark skin colours. [2] 

Resources

Published: August 20, 2024

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