The bright red pimples between my brows sent me into a spiraling downward spiral of despair and panic. Dark spots across my chin were the very reasons I wouldn’t let a soul—not even my boyfriend at the time—see me without color-correcting concealer in high school.
As someone who dealt with persistent acne in my teens (and still does, at 25), let me tell you that it controlled my entire life—whether I was ditching school because I was too sad to get out of bed or making a habit of avoiding eye contact with anyone and everyone. If you can relate to any of these experiences, I don’t have to convince you that constantly battling breakouts can do a number on your mental health.
“I also had terrible acne as a teenager, and the impact it made on my life was so significant,” Ife Rodney, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics in Fulton, Maryland, tells SELF. “I was so stressed. It really messed up my self-esteem.”
Breakouts aren’t just a teen issue, of course, but regardless of when—or how—they show up, take it from me and the experts: Their impact isn’t only skin deep.
Acne can affect your mental health in many ways.
Your confidence can be shattered.
Dr. Rodney, a dermatologist says that many patients who have active acne or scarring are insecure and ashamed of their appearance.
This self-consciousness can be so intense that you might avoid having your picture taken on your family’s annual beach vacation, for instance. You may have a breakdown when you examine your hormonal cysts in the harsh fluorescent lighting of the fitting room. A 2011 study found that people with moderate to severe acne are less likely than others to pursue romantic relationships.
“Worrying about your skin might seem like a superficial concern, which is one reason why many people feel embarrassed opening up about it,” Dr. Rodney says. “But the fact of the matter is, it does affect your quality of life, and for that reason, it should be taken seriously.”
Even your favourite people can be isolated by this condition.
If you’re anything like me, you might be convinced that You can also find out more about the people who work at It’s all about those dimpled ice-pick marks or flesh-colored bumps. So naturally, the solution to escaping any unwanted stares, double takes, or perceived glares of disgust is isolating yourself—which might include canceling plans at the last second or holing up until your skin is magically “better.”
Staying home once or twice isn’t necessarily a warning sign that acne is ruining your life. But if withdrawing during “bad skin days” becomes a habit, that means those stubborn zits are controlling your daily choices and relationships, Shasa Hu, MD, board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, tells SELF. Social support improves mental health and self esteem. Hiding from others may seem like an innocent way to protect yourself, but it’s not. I also know from experience that connecting with loved ones can make a big difference in how you’re feeling about your skin.
Depressed moods can be a result of depression.
We’re not just talking about one gnarly zit cropping up before a big work presentation and putting you in a crappy mood (though to be clear, that’s miserable too). You can feel clinically depressed when acne makes you so sad.