How to Tell if Acne Has Emotionally Impacted You: Overcoming the Emotional Effects of Acne

Acne is not just a skin disease - it is often a "soul" disease as well. The psychological and social impact of acne is a growing and serious concern that can have severe short and long-term emotional side effects - but the good news is that these symptoms can be controlled!

Acne affects adolescents at a time when they are developing their personalities. A growing number of adults are suffering from acne (the average age of an acne sufferer increased during the last ten years from 20.5 to 26.5 years old). Adults with acne have a larger probability to get chronic acne, which forces them to deal with this issue for a long time, and address it together with all the other adult challenges he or she faces.

Some psychological problems those with acne face are:

• Low self esteem and negative body image
• Social withdrawal and limiting or even terminating relationship building and social activities
• Lowering standards and motivation in meeting educational goals or work/career goals (fact: More people who have acne are unemployed than people who do not have acne)
• Mood swings
• Behavioral problems
• Loss of appetite
• Depression

If you have one or more of these symptoms, you can control and defeat them - so let's work together to overcome these obstacles!

Please note: If you suffer with severe psychological symptoms, we recommend that you seek guidance from your primary care physician.

Start with these 8 basic steps:

1. Acne is a skin disease, a manifestation of an imbalance of the sebaceous glands. It can be treated and controlled. Like an ear infection or broken ankle, it is no one's fault, it is not shameful, it requires treatment and there are efficacious treatments for acne. Get involved, take charge, and search for a treatment that is right for you. Ask your friends, family members or a person you trust to help - but get involved. DO NOT WAIT!
2. Like all other health problems, acne requires time to heal. Be patient. There are no miracle cures but there are treatments. And many, many, many people get rid of their acne successfully.
3. Acne is NOT contagious! So why should you not participate in social activities, or excel in sports or job assignments? Acne is only skin deep: it does NOT control you. You control you.
4. Find activities you excel in, do not resign from your goals; if you let yourself down, you should not be surprised that others will follow!
5. Align yourself with positive friends and acquaintances. In every social circle, there are individuals that are more sensitive, more open-minded, more focused on the real value of people and relationship. Look for them. They will be your real friends, as they look and see beyond your pimples.
6. Look for a "support group" comprised of those who share a specific interest or passion with you. Your acne will be invisible to them, and will become less important to you too.
7. Share your emotions with others. You'll be surprised at how many people feel inadequate because of acne, how short or tall they are, their hair color, speech pattern or accent, where they were born etc. (the list is endless!). Misery does not like companionship, but companionship can help to put misery in perspective.
8. Do not be afraid to camouflage your problem if it makes you feel better. There are different ways to lower the visibility of acne for both women and men. Good, light non-comedogenicconcealers or tinted moisturizers can help to reduce redness and make pimples less visible.   While you treat your acne, you can use them. After all, people use false lashes, breast enhancing bras, and slimming panties to feel better about themselves - so what's wrong with a dab of a concealer?!

KEEP IN MIND, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR ACNE TREATMENT. 

As you start to see progress, the emotional effects will start to fade away. 

Please feel free to reach out to us - we're here for you!

Best wishes for great skin and health,

Dr. Agnes

PS - We just launched a Premier membership designed to help those who just really cannot get rid of their acne. As a member, you get free one-on-one advice from me, free shipping on orders, special member-only deals and promotions and access to a private acne support group.

Check it out if you'd like!