WebMD Medical News Laura J. Martin, MD March 22, 2012 (San
Diego) -- Could acne be a sign of attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Yes, says a Canadian psychiatrist
whose study shows that people with acne are substantially more
likely to have ADHD than people with other skin problems. “Acne
patients should be screened for ADHD, especially if they
complain about [classic symptoms such as] trouble paying
attention and impulsivity,” says Madhulika A. Gupta, MD, of the
University of Western Ontario in London. "The child or teen with
acne that has ADHD will not look any different than the child or
teen with acne that doesn’t have ADHD. But if you ask them if
they have trouble concentrating at school, the answer will be a
definite yes,” she tells WebMD. The findings were presented here
at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Previous studies have linked acne to a number of psychiatric
problems, including depression and eating disorders. But no one
had examined a possible association