Study links severe acne in teens to suicidal thoughts

By Staff Writer

Severe cases of acne may be related to depression and suicidal thoughts among teenagers, a recent survey reveals.

According to results published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, teenagers with substantial acne had more thoughts of self-harm than those who had little or no breakouts. U.S. News and World Report released the study's findings, which also linked acne to emotional distress that does not necessarily lead to suicidal behavior.

Researchers surveyed 3,775 teenagers between the ages of 18 and 19, and more boys with severe acne admitted to thoughts of suicide than girls. Three times as many males and two times as many females with widespread pimples admitted to thoughts of self-injury, compared to those with little or no skin problems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third-leading cause of death in people ages 10 to 24 in the U.S., resulting in an average of 4,400 lives lost per year. Of the reported suicide cases in that age group, approximately 84 percent of the deaths were males.