Acne ups suicidal thoughts in teens

OSLO: Increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts among teenagers with severe pimples is because of the acne itself and not the used medications, a new study says.

Previous studies have reported that certain acne drugs including Accutane are linked with increased risk of mental health problems, particularly depression, and suicide in teens.

Being concerned about the potential links, many dermatologists do not prescribe acne medications to the sufferers.

According to the study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, having severe acne places teenagers at an increased risk of having suicidal thoughts and social problems. Having suicidal thoughts is an indicator of having emotional distress rather than being vulnerable to committing a suicide.

Compared with those with little or no acne, the risk of having suicidal ideas is three times higher in the affected boys and two times greater in girls with the condition, the study found.

“There is a pretty strong and consistent association between acne and symptoms of depression or mental health problems,” said lead researcher Jon Anders Halvorsen of Oslo University Hospital.