A survey done on adolescents with acne showed that most teenagers (64%) who have it felt embarrassed by it. A whopping 7 in 10 teenagers with acne reported they have much lower self-confidence than their peers, and more than 4 in 10 said it makes it difficult to find a date.
For many teens, uncovering their cystic acne on social media would be truly traumatizing. And one brave teenage girl did just that. She shared a beautiful selfie revealing her acne with a caption “Reminder that acne doesn’t make you ugly. A Heart Full Of Hate Does.”
But the internet is full of trolls, and one of them couldn’t keep their mouth shut. In return, the prick got murdered by words big time.
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But the bully couldn't miss a chance to criticize her
And people shut him down immediately
Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Liz Dawes-Higgs, a professional dermatologist who runs an established practice in Northbridge, Sydney. She is a national examiner for the Australasian College of Dermatologists, and has been awarded with the Scheering-Plough Award for her research in the field.
Liz explained that contrary to the popular opinion, acne can be a very big deal for many patients. “It has a large effect on the daily life of an adolescent, particularly self esteem.”
Moreover, “It seems almost cruel that acne develops at an age when we are just learning about our own self-confidence and starting to understand all about where we fit in the world.”
Many people shared how hard it was for them and their loved ones to live with acne
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The dermatologist also said that in terms of being teased for having acne at school, one should view it as “a question about resilience, which is always a great skill to develop.”
Having said that, Liz added that “once acne starts, it can be slow to treat so there may be some time where acne is present, even when you are doing the best that you can to treat it.” She urges people to seek advice early—and it can never be too early.
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Most importantly, acne sufferers should remember that it’s treatable, so don’t give up hope. “There are lots of options of treatment for acne so a dermatologist is in the best position to develop a plan that is tailored to you.”
A common mistake that Liz advises against is to not spend lots of money on expensive quick-fix cures over the internet, "as they will only make a big hole in your pocket.”
The right treatment should aim “to control excessive oil production, reduce skin bacteria, and unclog pores.” It can come in a range of options, depending on how severe your acne is, and includes creams, gels, tablets, peels, and lasers.
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