The social effect of acne vulgaris can be quite severe in many people. For a long time the psychological effects of acne have been tremendous. One of the reasons could be that acne is so common. Almost everyone gets acne at some point of time in their lives. In most people it goes away on its own, while in others it wrecks havoc.
Studies have recently shown that acne causes severe social effect in people. People suffering from acne, especially the severe forms such as cystic and nodular acne show social withdrawal symptoms. They do not like going out. They feel embarrassed to be seen with so many pimples on their face. If they have acne on their back or chest, they feel uncomfortable wearing backless dresses or swimwear. They also feel embarrassed taking part in many social activities and eventually they cut themselves off.
Researchers have found that many people with acne also suffer from low self esteem and reduced self confidence. This social effect of acne could be quite damaging especially in youngsters. Acne usually strikes during teen years. A loss of self esteem in teens can hinder their overall psychological development. They can have trouble forming relationships and become shy and reclusive.
Many acne sufferers have a very poor body image of themselves. They hate looking at themselves in the mirror. Many girls grow long hair to cover their faces. Some wear heavy makeup before stepping out of their homes. Many kids also refuse to go to school due to their acne.
Adults with acne often take sick days from work and thus risk their career growth. Moreover, acne patients do not fare so well in job interviews. Statistics show that more people who suffer from acne are unemployed than people who do not have this skin problem.
Researchers have also found that many acne patients suffer from depression. This is a very serious social effect of acne. Some of the signs that they show are:
Depression is a serious issue and it should be recognized early and treated in time. Parents should be on the lookout for above symptoms if their kids have acne. Recognizing the effects of acne can help us treat them effectively.
We need to understand that today there are many effective treatments available for acne. Even the severest form of acne can be treated in due time. Meanwhile, we need to also understand that acne is not the end of the world. You should not let acne come between you and your life.