Does Acne create Social Anxiety?

July 14th, 2010

Is acne responsible for social anxiety disorders? The answer seems to be yes. Acne is a common skin disorder affecting a large percentage of the population, both adolescent and adult. Acne may be dismissed as a superficial condition, but studies suggest that its repercussion are more that just “skin deep”.

It seems that acne patients tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression than even cancer patients do. Studies have found that acne can have an important effect on self-image and self-esteem, which can lead to the inhibition of social interactions. Like a no-win situation the worst part is that acne causes stress which can worsen an existing acne problem.

Social Anxiety does not Discriminate by Age

As the media puts more emphasis on our appearance, any flaw can affect your self-esteem. It is a untrue to claim that only teenagers suffer from social anxiety when it comes to acne problems. If the anxiety produced by acne is not treated while the patient is young, it will affect them throughout your life.

Severe acne problems and the resulting scars can eventually cause an impact on the patient’s daily life and lead to such problems as social withdrawal, social phobia and anxiety disorder.

Social phobia causes overwhelming fear that others are looking at you and judging you. Social phobia produces embarrassment about your appearance and makes social events stressful. This eventually takes a toll not only on your psychological health, but also on your physical health.

Anxiety disorders are the result of severe stress brought upon by severe acne. As with social phobia, anxiety disorders have many of the same symptoms. The important factor to remember is that both problems are treatable, and if not treated, they can lead to poor performance in school and poor social skills.

Dealing with Acne Problems

If you are suffering from anxiety brought on by acne, your first step is to seek medical attention for both conditions. Acute cases of acne might require special treatments for acne problems. Mild cases can be treated with over the counter products. Your skin care routine should taken very seriously in both cases.

Wash your face 2 times a day with a cleanser designed for your skin type. Exfoliate at least once a week if you are a teenager and more frequently as you age. Use a toner without alcohol to get rid of any remains of dirt or dead skin and finally, moisturize.

By following a simple cleansing routine, you can help alleviate the social anxiety that can accompany acne problems.

Natural skin care treatments have become a popular way of treating acne problems especially because they are apt for every skin type. Bioskincare cream is an effective pimple treatment that will help prevent breakouts. Try this amazing product and see how your skin clears up.

- Valerie DeVette

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