Facing Acne Can Be Tough — Bu You Can Do It

Our society places a great emphasis on physical appearance. In a
culture where looks are overly emphasized, feeling good about
yourself is easier said than done. We’re constantly bombarded with
advertising that displays models and movie stars, all of whom are
depicted as paragons of beauty and flawless perfection. They often
serve as the spokespeople for health and beauty aids that imply
that you can look like them if you “get with it” and do what they do
or buy the products they’re promoting.
When you see media portrayals of all those people with perfect
skin, just remember that almost all of those photos are touched-up
and airbrushed. Some of the models even have acne, just like you!
Even mild cases of acne can leave a person with a negative
self-image — sometimes well beyond the degree of the actual phys-
ical appearance. These negative feelings are particularly prevalent
when you have a concentration of lesions on your face, which is
your greeting card and introduction to the world. Unlike many
other skin conditions, acne lesions wind up on areas that often
aren’t concealed by clothing.
Acne is often a source of anxiety that can impact your self-image
and confidence. Some of the things you might be experiencing are:
 Feeling uncomfortable in social settings
 Having less self-confidence
 Becoming more preoccupied with your appearance
 Feeling like you’re trapped in a perpetual adolescence
 Being sad and sometimes getting depressed (see the following
sections)
These negative effects and feelings can put pressures on your
social, work, or school life.
Here are some suggestions that you can use to cope with some of
these negative feelings:
 Wash your face no more than two to three times a day (unless
you’re a coal miner!). Check out Chapter 2 for my face wash-
ing tips.
 Get a new haircut or hairstyle (bangs are great!). Spruce up your wardrobe.
 Educate yourself. Read about acne in this or other sources.
 Find the right dermatologist or healthcare provider to treat
your acne. (In Chapter 8, I tell you how to go about it.)
Here are some tips for if and when you start undergoing treatmen
 Stand at least two feet away from all mirrors for the next two
months.
 Measure progress monthly instead of daily; be a patient
patient!
 Take a picture of your acne when it’s at its very worst. Put th
picture in your bottom drawer and don’t look at it for two
months, because that’s how long it may take to see significan
improvement.
 Be sure you know the names of and exactly how to use your
acne medications. (I spell out all of this information in
Chapters 7 through 13).
 If you’re still feeling emotionally overwhelmed and possibly
depressed, see the next section.