When it comes to putting your best face forward, it can be a challenge when you’ve got acne.
Not only does it throw a wrench into your overall makeup process (extra concealer? Yup, we’ve all felt like we’ve needed it), it also can wreak havoc on your skin care routine as you are always on the hunt for products that can be gentle on your skin while making sure that your affected skin is also treated and healed.
What Is Acne Anyways?
Acne comes in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and cysts. Usually appearing on the face and neck. Acne can also occur on the shoulders, back, and upper arms. It’s the result of an accumulation of sebum, an oily substance produced by oil glands. Sebum increases and when combined with dead skin cells the pore becomes congested. Within the pores bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) increases, resulting in inflammation that will cause visible redness, swelling and lead to pus along with acne spots.
Other triggers include aggravation by skincare products, food, genetics, and hormones.
The Canadian Dermatology Association has some key facts about acne:
*It affects nearly 20% of the Canadian population, approximately 5.6 million people *Facial acne accounts for 99% of the cases *Body acne accounts for 50% of the cases *Traditionally acne starts around puberty and can last for many years. *Women make up 75% of adult acne cases *Acne affects about 90% of adolescents and 20-30% of adults ages 20 to 40.
An Emotional Toll
Not only can acne alter your physical appearance, but it can also take an emotional toll as well.
The British Journal of Dermatology published a Canadian study of nearly 500 patients where it was discovered that having acne can be the cause of emotional distress, feelings of low self-esteem, depression and even self-harm.
Having acne can also lead to emotional stress when dealing with everyday issues.
The Inevitable Selfies
It’s become an obligatory move. Get dressed go out and take that selfie. But when your skin isn’t looking or feeling its finest, finding that perfect angle can be tough. And do you really want to filter yourself out to oblivion? Sure, it’s great for touch-ups, but losing yourself in the vortex of apps can be emotionally draining.
Making Plans and Then Cancelling Them
When your skin is fraught with acne, it doesn’t matter how good your ensemble is, the one thing you can’t ignore is how your skin looks. Your self-esteem can take a solid blow and you then find yourself choosing to hibernate while you wait for your skin to heal before showing your face out in public. Treating yourself to a night in for some binge-watching is fine. But choosing to do so because you don’t want to be seen in public, well, that’s not right.
Souring Your Self Esteem
And speaking of self-esteem, when you’re focused on your appearance—or your change of appearance due to acne, it’s only natural for you to start feeling a bit of self-doubt. When you don’t feel that you are looking your best, your self-esteem can suffer a great deal.
Mental Health
Acne can cause be stressful and cause anxiety. When all you see is your acne and not your beautiful face coupled with the self-conscious notion that the whole world is focused on your acne as well can definitely be trying for your mental health. So, whether you are preparing for your job interview, your first date or getting ready for a work event or family function, the stress of having to face it all can be indeed daunting.
And now for some (seriously) good news…
With the proper treatment followed by a home care routine, your skin can get cleared up. Your skin just like any other organ will have its good days and bad days. However, with proper attention and upkeep, your acne can be manageable with a bright outlook of having clear skin on the horizon. Depending on its severity, acne can leave post-inflammatory discoloration and scarring. Improve skin tone and texture with professional peels alongside smoothing and brightening home care products. A skincare professional will know exactly what your skin needs to bring it back to its original glory.
