Adolescents’ Skin Care Visits: A Ten Years Survey

Background: Skin conditions are noted to be common in adolescence and are known to affect the quality of life resulting in some cases severe emotional outcomes such as depression. Knowledge of this spectrum of dermatoses in a tertiary health institution will assist in quantifying skin diseases associated with greatest burden.

Aim: To investigate the spectrum and characteristics of adolescent dermatoses.

Methods: This a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study done at the dermatology outpatient clinic (DOPC), of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakahia, Rivers state. The data was collected from the register of new patients seen between the periods of January 2006 to December 2015. Patients aged 10-19 years presenting with a fresh complaint of a skin disorder was included in the study.

Results: The total number of adolescents and diagnoses that presented the DOPC within the period was 685 and 785 constituting 12.2% of all new patients (5619) and dermatoses13.2% of all new dermatoses(5961) seen within that period. The M: F ratio was 1:2 with the 17-19 years age group having the highest presentation of 43.6%. The major diagnoses made up to 50.3% of all the new diagnoses.

Conclusion: The top 12 major dermatoses that were seen in this study were are acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, papular urticarial, vitiligo, pityriasis versicolor, pityriasis rosea, contact dermatitis, tinea corporis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, warts, fixed drug eruption and lichen planus. The awareness of the common dermatoses in this age group can help guide the physicians in caring for the adolescent.