Prevalencia de acné y su relación con la autoestima en adolescentes de la Unidad Educativa José Peralta de la Ciudad de Cañar, Ecuador 2024-2025.

Abstract

Introduction: Acne is a common skin condition among adolescents caused by the blockage of hair follicles with oil and dead skin cells, resulting in whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cysts. This condition can negatively affect self-esteem and quality of life due to its impact on body image and the feelings of embarrassment or frustration it causes. Objective: To determine the prevalence of acne and its relationship to self-esteem among adolescents at the José Peralta School in the city of Cañar, Ecuador, during the 2024–2025 school year. Method: A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted. The sample consisted of 229 adolescent students selected at random using Excel’s RAND function. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to measure self-esteem, and a scale assessing the prevalence of acne based on the affected area and severity was used for evaluation. Results: A total of 229 students aged 12 to 18 participated; 55% were female, and 45% were male. Thirty-three percent were in their first year of high school, 33% in their second year, and 34% in their third year. Grade I acne was most prevalent in the anterior chest region (19.2%). Additionally, 78.6% reported average self-esteem, 20.1% reported low self-esteem, and 1.3% reported high self-esteem. Conclusions: A statistically significant relationship was found between the severity of acne and self-esteem levels, confirming the proposed hypothesis and demonstrating the correlation between these two variables in the adolescent population. Keywords: acne, adolescent, self-esteem, level, relationship