The present study investigated how patients with acne vulgaris cope with their disease. By means of questionnaires, relations and interactions between acne and psyche were evaluated. In addition to the evaluation of a specific questionnaire for patients with chronic skin disorders (CSD), assessing psychosocial impairment by the disease, depression and social anxiety were investigated in patients with acne. The study included 50 patients with acne. The CSD showed significant correlations with Beck's depression inventory, the interaction-anxiety questionnaire and the health locus of control scale. The CSD revealed significant differences compared to a control group of 33 patients with healthy skin. Furthermore the patients' attitudes towards triggering factors and disease-related limitations in everyday life are presented. The results of the study demonstrate that patients with acne suffer from emotional distress and psychosocial problems caused by their disease; however, impairment is not correlated with the objective severity of acne.