Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous gland affecting majority of adolescents at some point in their life. It is a common reason for visits to healthcare facilities. There is paucity of data on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of acne on adolescents in our environment. There is an increasing awareness of the effect of skin diseases in the life of its sufferers. However, the routine use of quality of life instruments in the assessment and management of patients is yet to become common place in developing countries. Aims This community based study was carried out among adolescents to determine the prevalence of acne vulgaris, clinical characteristic and impairment of quality of life due to acne vulgaris. Methods Structured pretested questionnaires including the Cardiff acne disability index, CADI (English version with little modification) was administered to both the case and control groups who met the required criteria. This was an interviewer’s administered questionnaire. The students were then examined and acne severity graded using the global acne grading scale, GAGS. Results The prevalence of acne vulgaris determined amongst seven hundred and twenty eight students on examination was 24% (176 students: 85 females and 91 males).The age range was from eleven to twenty years and mean age of respondent was 15.5 years. Prevalence increased from thirteen to sixteen years and then reduced from ages seventeen to nineteen years. One hundred and sixty consecutive (83 males and 77 females) students out of the total number of one hundred and seventy six students who had acne on examination at the time of the study were recruited for the second part of the study -to determine the pattern of acne and quality of life impairment from acne. They were age and sex matched with one hundred and thirty five students who have never had acne (73 males and 62 females). Age range for both was thirteen to nineteen years (mean age 16 years) Age at onset of acne for seventy eight (48.8%) out of one hundred and sixty students was thirteen to fourteen years. Earlier onset was reported in one male at eight years. Duration of acne ranged from less than one month to more than thirty six months. Seventy four (46 3%) students had severe acne at least once a month. Symptomatology associated with acne included pain and itch with or without seborrhea. The commonest perceived precipitant of acne was diet in eighty seven (54.4%) of students. The chemist attendant was consulted for acne in 18.8 % of cases by thirty students. Only five (3%) students saw a doctor. The commonest modality of treatment was with topical -over the counter products, some of which contained steroids. Acne products were procured from the pharmacist by seventy six (69.8%) students; while four (3.8%) students bought “acne medicine” from drug hawkers. Earliest menarche was at twelve years of age. Fifty four students, (77.1%) had attained menarche by age thirteen. Acne was aggravated by menstruation in twenty nine (49%) students before, during or after their “periods.” This study showed a lower CADI score of 3.4 compared to other studies that recorded 6.5. Neither the age at onset of acne nor the duration of acne influenced the quality of life scores. Impairment in quality of life was statistically significant in the study group compared to controls without acne (p < 0.01). Ninety eight (61.2%) students had mild CADI scores signifying minimal impairment in quality of life due to acne. Feelings of aggressiveness, frustration and or embarrassment were reported by seventy (43.7%) students. Thirty five (21.9%) students reported interference in their social life from the presence of acne. Only twenty three (14%)students reported an inability to wear clothes that expose their upper trunk because of the presence of acne on these sites. This was significantly so in males compared to female students. One hundred and three (64.4%)students had felt bad about the appearance of their skin in the past one month. Eighty (50%) students thought their acne was a minor problem compared to sixteen (10%) who thought it was a major problem. The mean global acne grading scales severity scores were 11.3 ± 5.4 in males and 11.9 ± 5.4 in females signifying mild acne. One hundred and forty three (89.4%) students had mild acne severity; sixteen (10%) students had moderate acne severity with a female preponderance while only one male student had severe acne. Seven out of the thirteen students with moderate acne on examination also had CADI scores that showed moderate to severe impairment in their quality of life. The single male student with severe acne on examination also had the highest CADI score of 13/15 signifying maximal impairment in his quality of life. Conclusion Acne vulgaris is a common condition among adolescents. In the adolescents, mild acne is commonly seen. There is some impairment in the quality of life of adolescents due to acne compared to individuals without acne (p < 0.01); though not to the same degree as seen in the western worl