Psychological Impact of Acne

The 21^st century incites people to always look their best. As the skin is the body part that is most exposed to the looks of others, special attention is given to it. Hence, skincare must have been the utmost priority of daily routine.

Acne affects 85% of adolescents and often continues into adulthood. (Source: Wiley Online Library) It can have profound psychological and physical effects on adolescents. This impacts the social and psychological functioning.

The more severe the acne, the greater the effect will be on the quality of life and the greater the impact on the self‐esteem and body image. In extreme cases, the impact of acne leads to serious consequences like major depression and suicide.

A study showed that teenagers with acne were perceived as being:

• Shy
• Nerdy
• Stressed
• Lonely
• Boring
• Unkempt
• Unhealthy
• Introverted
• Rebellious

(Source: Wiley Online Library)

Acne can impact your social life. Many teenagers express that this has an effect on their social behavior. It affects the way they present themselves to the world. It can lead to withdrawal from social activities, concerns about forming relationships and fear or experiences of prejudice and bullying. Their relationships with their family and parents might also be affected. This is because parents worry about the impact acne will have on their child. And they might also lack knowledge about the causes and treatment of acne. This may delay or prevent the teenager from seeking medical intervention.

Patients with acne feel self‐conscious about recurrent and ongoing spots, redness and scarring. They describe feelings of embarrassment, low confidence, depression, sadness, anxiety, anger, frustration and despair. This is true if they have tried many treatments and are not happy with the results.

Also Read: 7 powerful home remedies for acne