World's worst country for teen acne revealed as UK comes out in top ten

The world capital for acne has been revealed as its prevalence in British teens is on the rise.

Germany's teenagers are the planet's worst-struck by zits and blackheads, according to a new study, which also ranks the UK eighth globally for diagnoses of the skin condition. The report by the British Association of Dermatologists (BDA) analysed acne rates in 204 countries with figures here slowly creeping up over the past generation.

Almost 16% (15.98%) of German teenagers have been diagnosed with acne, the study found. Portugal, Luxembourg, Norway, Andorra, Denmark, and San Marino are the other countries with higher rates than the UK.

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According to dermatologists' findings, nearly 15% of British teens and young people were battling acne in 2021 - a condition which results in breakouts on the skin, mainly on the face, due to excess oil production. The figure is up from 13.57% in 1990, which experts believe could be down to more people seeking medical help and treatment for the condition.

The study's lead author Dr Zhou Zhu cited rising pollution, stress and obesity rates and increasing prevalence of junk food as possible factors for rising cases. The real figures of young people living with acne are likely much greater due to the report only accounting for medical diagnoses.

The NHS claims "most people" will get acne at some point in their lives, with breakouts occurring also on backs and chests. Most cases of the condition, it claims, can be treated with a proper skincare routine and avoiding oil-based skin products.

Professor Michael Arden-Jones from the British Association of Dermatologists said the impact of acne was much further reaching than the physical effects on people's skin, and had the power to profoundly impact people's mental health, particularly amongst teenagers. He said: "As well as the psychological impact of untreated acne, some people suffer permanent scars. However, there are treatments to limit the impact of the condition.