We’ve all
seen the young girl with her hair draped over her face, head down, refusing to
look at you when you talk with her. Or
the young man who rushes out of school or work as soon as possible and avoids
contact with other people, desperately wanting to hide.
Profound and Devastating Effects
Acne is
often more than a skin condition. It can
have a very profound and devastating effect upon the sufferer. It’s not only severe forms of acne that can
cause the problems – even mild acne can be debilitating for some people. Occurring primarily in teens, acne affects
nearly 85% of young people between the ages of 12 and 25 and the psychological
and social impacts are of great concern.
During a time when personalities are being developed, adolescents
particularly are vulnerable since they are so profoundly affected by peer
acceptance and status.
Self-Esteem Attacked
The now
understood impact of acne can show up in terms of wounded self esteem and poor
body image. Embarrassed acne sufferers
avoid eye contact and as we mentioned, young girls can grow their hair long to
cover their face. Heavy make-up is
another tool often employed and a bane to young men because they don’t feel
they have the same advantage of cover-up.
If acne appears on the body, it can inhibit participation in sports
should the person have to change in a public facility.
Teens can
be very cruel and pimples provoke taunts.
The difficulty presented in relating with other people, particularly
those of the opposite sex, can add to the pain.
Self confidence wanes in the glare of acne and teens – or adult
sufferers – become shy and reclusive, avoiding the negative reaction of others.
School and Work Affected
School and
work can be affected should the individual refuse to leave the house. Sick days and absences put jobs at risk and
certain careers become out of reach. The
lack of self confidence can be as obvious as spotty skin, leading to
unemployment. Interestingly enough, more
people who are unemployed have acne than those who do not have acne.
Depression
As the
emotional impact spirals, depression can be the result. Social withdrawal, classic signs of
depression such as loss of appetite, lethargy, mood disturbances, crying, behavioral
problems and feelings of unworthiness are all symptoms of depression. These very symptoms can lead some acne
sufferers to consider suicide, and sadly, some have succeeded.
Seek Help!
Acne can
interfere with a person’s life in dramatic ways. If it is significantly affecting you or
someone you know, particularly if it has led to depression – seek medical help
from your primary care giver or a dermatologist. Today, it isn’t necessary to suffer
silently. There are many excellent
treatments available with very high success rates to treat acne and help
restore a healthy sense of self esteem.
