Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Acne Vulgaris among Anbar Medical Students in Ramadi City, Iraq

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common chronic skin condition affecting a significant proportion of adults and 85% of adolescents. Acne is frequently underestimated in Anbar governorate, despite anecdotal evidence suggesting a high prevalence. Objectives: To identify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of acne among medical students in the College of Medicine, University of Anbar. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2024 to April 2025 among all Anbar medical students. Cases of acne have been enrolled for assessment of prevalence and severity. Duration of disease, food type, drug history, sites, severity, scarring grade, body mass index, and complications have been studied. Results: Out of 1218 medical students, 270 (22.16%) were diagnosed with acne. The mean age was 19.72 ± 2.15 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.5:1. The most affected site was the face, followed by the back, while the chest was the least commonly involved. Nearly a third of participants had moderate acne. The most frequent complication was erythema, followed by scarring and hyperpigmentation. The association between acne severity and dietary factors was statistically significant for spicy foods (P-value = 0.006) and cola (P-value = 0.002), but not for sweets (P-value = 0.148). Conclusions: Acne vulgaris is a prevalent condition among Anbar medical students. The multifactorial nature of acne highlights the need for awareness among young adults. The strong association between acne severity and scarring reflects the importance of early and effective treatment to minimize scar formation.