Psychological Effects of Acne

We are well-aware of the physical destruction that acne can wreak on a person’s skin, particularly in advanced cases or if the acne is left untreated.  Since it is so common and widespread, however, affecting persons regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, we often take for granted or disregard the significant psychological and emotional impact that acne can have.  In particular, teens and adults alike must struggle to the blows to their confidence and self-esteem that a disfigured appearance inevitably brings.

Teenagers have a rough time contending with acne, as just one of the many radical changes caused by their brimming maturity.  Though practically all teenagers deal with acne at some level, those whose affliction is more pronounced tend to be ridiculed or looked upon as ugly by their peers.  This social ostracism can severely damage a teenager’s self-image and perception of his or her own body.  Acne sufferers typically grow their hair long to conceal the condition, or in the case of girls, wear heavy make-up, which in most cases actually aggravates the emergence of pimples and blemishes.  If they suffer from acne on their torsos as well, adolescents shy away from productive physical activities, like sports, because of the fear of exposure in communal changing rooms.  On an interactive level, teenagers suffering from severe acne have difficulty establishing relationships, either of the friendship or romantic kind, because they feel inferior or hideous.  They become shy and anti-social, and this reclusive attitude may carry forward later in their lives.

Adults also contend with insecurity and other negative feelings brought about by acne, though in their case the stigma is even worse, either because they do not expect to still be dealing with acne at their age, or simply because society does not, unlike in the case of adolescents, typically associate acne afflictions with adults.  Adults struggling with acne are prone to poor work attendance and general reclusive behavior.  They avoid forming relationships and become socially crippled.  Unemployment rates are higher among adults with acne, who find themselves either excluded from most jobs in which personal appearance is a factor, or failing job interviews due to their inherent lack of confidence.

In extreme scenarios, acne sufferers sink into clinical depression, as their social withdrawal and shattered self-confidence create feelings of worthlessness and rejection from society as a whole.  Adolescents have even been known to attempt suicide, as their pariah status simply becomes too much of a burden to handle.  It doesn’t help that parents of a lot of these afflicted teenagers are quick to dismiss their pre-occupation with acne as a trivial adolescent concern, something that they will eventually grow out of.  Depression is a pervasive aspect of severe acne affliction in adults as well, making sufferers unable to function normally, wrecking their personal lives, careers and whatever bonds remain to tether them to society. 

The right path towards alleviating the non-physical harm that acne inflicts on individuals is to acknowledge that it is a more serious condition than we assume, and that the disfigurement caused by it is nothing to laugh at or look down upon.  In addition to treatment and management of the physical aspects of acne, it is important to reassure acne sufferers and treat them in a fair, accepting, non-discriminatory manner.  

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