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The teenager’s curse: acne and mental health

Looks matter. Is is an inescapable truth in today’s modern world. One only has to look at a billboard or advertisement to see celebrities with flawless, glowing complexions selling us the latest skin treatments or health products. For young men and women growing up, the seemingly unobtainable beauty of celebrities and supermodels means that any flaw or slight imperfection in one’s complexion is magnified in any young person’s head. How many times have you been sure that the terrible pimple on your face is obvious and blatant, despite your friend’s insistence that there is nothing there?

For this reason it is not uncommon for teenagers who have experienced skin problems to suffer from low self-esteem. Depression can occur due to the mental state of a teenager, coupled with seemingly unbearable skin problems, like acne, even if one person’s problems do not seem so bad to another. Unfortunately, because of a celebrity culture in today’s world, looks are valued above anything else, and assets like intelligence take a back seat. Because of the pressure to always ‘look good’, such teenagers can often find themselves finding excuses to avoid social occasions, or hiding their faces because they believe it is awful to look at. Low confidence stemming from acne can even lead to anorexia or bulimia.

Acne is an incredibly common skin problem, and one that is not discriminatory; anyone can get acne, whatever their age, and whatever their ethnicity. However, the time at which one becomes most aware of one’s looks, is also the point in life at which acne is most prevalent: the teenage years. This is the time period when individuals really start to notice members of the opposite sex, and as a result, feel the need to preen themselves and make themselves look attractive. Acne can have a terrible effect on one’s self esteem at this point in life.

The American Academy of Dermatology has shown that 95% of Americans have suffered from acne during the teenage years. Some teenagers tackle the problem by hiding away; some use make-up, long hair styles, or concealer to hide their faces. While everyone’s skin is different, many people have had success with acne treatments like ClearPores.

The extent of a young person’s depression or sadness when afflicted by acne is affected greatly by the support of friends and family. Because of the effect acne can have on a young person’s mental state, parents can play a crucial role in offering support and help, and even if it seems that there is no end in sight, it is important to emphasise that acne is merely a temporary phase.

Parents can also seek help for their children from counselling services. In any case, acne will pass, scars will fade, and teenagers will be glad that they had the support of family members to help them through a difficult period.