Table 1

Study characteristics of papers included in the synthesis

Study
(country)		FocusParticipants (sampling)Skin condition(s)Data collection, methodology and analysisKey themes presented by author
McNiven12 UKAmbivalence and ambiguity in young people’s experiences of acne25 participants aged 13–25 years
Primary care, secondary care, patient representative groups, universities, colleges, schools and social media platforms		AcneIn-depth qualitative interviews
Coding reports were analysed conceptually by the author using a mind-mapping technique		Differences and ambiguities: understandings held about acne causes: negotiating connotations; a medical concern? Preferentially positioning ‘acne’ or ‘spots’; and other people and health contexts: making comparisons
Magin et al 13 AustraliaViews about the causes of acne and implications for acne management26 participants with acne (13–52 years)
Primary care, secondary care and community advertising		AcneSemistructured interviews
Grounded theory approach		Beliefs regarding acne causation; implications of these beliefs for acne management
Ip et al 14 UKViews and experiences of acne treatments (topicals and oral antibiotics)25 participants with acne aged 13–24 years
Primary care, secondary care, patient representative
Groups, universities, colleges, schools and social media platforms		AcneSecondary analysis of primary interviews
Thematic analysis		Perception of acne; perception of treatments
Koo15 USAPsychological impact of acneNot statedAcneInterviews
Not labelled		The psychosocial effect; acne and functional status
Fabbrocini et al 16 UK, Italy, and GermanyImpact of acne and attributes to topical treatments34 adolescents aged 12–17 years and 16 adults aged 18–47 years with moderate–severe acne who were currently/recently prescribed topical treatment
Recruited through a specialist recruitment panel		AcneIn-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews
Thematic analysis		Impact on their quality of life; attributes of topical treatments
Murray and Rhodes17 UK (users from USA, Australia, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Italy and the Pacific Islands)Experiences of adults with severe visible acne, and implications of these experiences11 participants with visible acne aged 19–33 years who visited acne message boards
Community advertising (discussion groups and message boards)		Visible acneInterviews via electronic email
Interpretative phenomenological analysis		Powerlessness and the variable nature of acne; comparisons, self-image and identity; the experience of general social interaction; relationships with family and friends; and gender, sexuality and romantic relationships
Magin et al 18 AustraliaPsychological impact of acneSame participants as reference.13 AcneSemistructured interviews
Grounded theory approach		Self-perception and social anxiety; central theme: appearance, depression and anxiety; and consequences of the effects of acne; moderating factors
Santer et al 19 UK (Forum users in and outside the UK)Views and experiences of oral antibiotics for acne and advice shared among messages posted on online forumsForums including 65 discussions among 294 participants discussing oral antibioticsAcneSystematic search for online discussion forums on acne (four forums identified)
Thematic analysis		Perception around effectiveness and appropriateness of oral antibiotics for acne; adverse effects with antibiotics; variable advice and experiences in acne severity; and delay in onset of action of oral antibiotics
Skaggs et al 11 USAExperience using an acne treatment (topical)27 young adults with acne (15-21)
Single centre (either primary or secondary care)		AcneVideo interviews
Not labelled		Symptoms; self-perception; social placement; and perception of control
Pruthi and Babu20 IndiaPhysical and psychosocial impact of acne in adult females11 women, adult participants with acne (18–25)
Primary and secondary care		AcneSemi-structured clinical interview and open-ended questions
Not labelled		Physical discomfort; anger; and intermingling impact of acne
Jowett and Ryan21 UKImpact of acne in terms of occupational, social and emotional functioning30 participants with acne aged 16–79 years
Secondary care (invited by letter)		Acne, psoriasis and atopic eczemaSemistructured interviews
Not labelled		Experiences of the disorder; expressive disability; interpersonal relationships; daily life and leisure
Magin et al 22 AustraliaImpact of the media on people with acne, psoriasis and atopic eczema26 patients with acne, 29 with psoriasis and 7 with atopic eczema (13–73 years)
Primary care, secondary care and community advertising		Acne, psoriasis and atopic eczemaSemistructured interviews
Thematic analysis		Societal ideal; role of media; stigmatisation and other psychological sequelae; appreciation of the falsity of media representations of the ideal; and male respondents
Magin et al 23 AustraliaImpact of acne, psoriasis and atopic eczema on sexual functioning and sexual relationshipsSame participants as reference.22 Acne, psoriasis and atopic eczemaSemistructured interviews
Thematic analysis and grounded theory approach		Participants with acne: the role of appearance and sexual attraction and gender differences
Magin et al 24 AustraliaImpact of acne, psoriasis and atopic eczema in their experience of teasing and bullyingSame participants as reference.22 Acne, psoriasis and atopic eczemaSemistructured interviews
Analytic induction method and modified grounded theory approach		The universally negative nature of teasing; the use of teasing as an instrument of social exclusion; the use of teasing as a means of establishing or enforcing power relationships; teasing relating to contagion and fear; the emotional and psychological sequelae of teasing; and ‘insensate’ teasing
Prior and Khadaroo25 UKThe meaning of living with visible acne11 young adults with mild-moderate facial acne (18–22) at university
Snowball sampling and email to different courses		Facial acneInterviews
Thematic analysis		Coping strategies; comparisons to earlier self; advice and practical support from family; and gender and acne
Magin et al 26 AustraliaExperiences of patients with acne, psoriasis or atopic eczema in their relationships with their doctorsSame participants as reference.22 Acne, psoriasis and atopic eczemaSemistructured interviews
Thematic analysis and modified grounded theory approach		Relationships with GPs; relationships with dermatologists
Ryskina et al 28 Large academic health system in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area.Experiences with primary non-adherence to medications for acne and to identify physician-level factors that may improve adherence in this populationInterviews were conducted with 26 patients (19 women, 6 aged <26 years, 15 aged 26–40 years, and 5 aged >40 years)AcneStructured interviews
Thematic content analysis		Barriers related to cost of medication and insurance coverage; poor understanding of prior authorisation process; physician–patient communication about costs; solutions offered by physicians: backup plan; reservations regarding plan of treatment
Magin et al 27 AustraliaViews and experiences of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in patients with acne, psoriasis, or atopic eczemaSame participants as reference.22 Acne, psoriasis and atopic eczemaSemistructured interviews
Thematic analysis		CAM therapies in acne; CAM therapies for psoriasis and eczema
Magin et al 29 AustraliaViews and experiences of isotretinoinSame participants as reference.13 AcneSemistructured interviews
Thematic analysis		Attitudes to ‘medical’ treatments; perceptions regarding isotretinoin and adverse effects; perceptions of psychological effects; and experiences of psychological sequelae
Zureigat et al 30 AustraliaGeneral practitioners’ attitudes towards acne management20 participants in total consisting of GPs (n=15) and general practice registrars (n=5)AcneStructured telephone interviews with image portraying a patient
Qualitative descriptive methodology		The GP experience with acne patients; the complexities of treatment and referral; and moving towards better patient outcomes

  • GP, general practitioner.