Imagine you’re three days away from celebrating your twenty-first birthday. Friends are throwing you a huge party, and everyone you know is invited. You’ve got brand new clothes, a new look, and can’t wait to be the star of the party.
While checking your new hairstyle in the bedroom mirror, you freeze as you notice a cluster of small pimples on your left cheek. You realize in horror that you’re about to have another acne flair-up. It took months to get rid of your old acne scars, and now here acne is again. You decide there’s no way you’re going to your big party with a face full of pimples.
Acne scars and social stigma
Everyone has moments where they want to look perfect. Maybe they have a big date, want to attract someone special, or maybe their job depends on their looks. The need to look attractive extends across all cultures and countries. Nowhere in the world will you find anyone who wants acne.
Acne is a hard disorder to handle. In addition to acne scars that can ruin an otherwise perfect face, acne scars can also lead to social problems. It’s not easy feeling or doing your best when you’re dealing with acne. Remember high school? There was always that one kid who battled acne all the time. Maybe the other kids teased with names like “pizza face” or “crater face”. How do you think that worked when it was time to start dating?
The teen years are when teenagers learn to form relationships – both friendly and romantic. But teenagers with severe acne scars are less likely to develop the self-esteem and confidence needed to form these relationships. They can also start to exhibit social withdrawal. Having acne doesn’t get any easier when you’re an adult, either.
The dermatology journal Dermatologic Therapy recently reported on how acne or remaining acne scars often hurt adult interactions. For example, job interviews. Job candidates with acne or severe acne scars are likely to do poorly in job interviews. Research shows that many employers, and a large percent of the general public, perceive attractive people as more intelligent and competent. It doesn’t matter if they’re totally incompetent because it’s that first impression that counts.
People with clear skin and good looks have a higher success rate when it comes to jobs and promotions. Those with acne have a higher success rate when it comes to unemployment and no promotions. This is unfair, but it’s reality. Even mild cases of acne can cause serious problems.
Those who overcome their acne problems usually become more socially active and develop higher levels of self-confidence and self-esteem. Finding a good plan to fight acne is not only a recommendation, it’s a necessity.
Four Easy Ways to Treat Acne without a Prescription
Acne is an embarrassing skin disorder that has left plenty of ruined social lives in its wake. The disorder is common, and easily recognizable. If your skin develops blackheads, whiteheads, or red or yellow spots that look greasy, then you have acne. It doesn’t matter what color your skin happens to be or if you’re male or female. Acne can strike anyone. Although it’s sometimes severe, there are ways to treat acne without a prescription.
According to the McKinley Health Center at The University of Illinois, acne is the most common skin disease in the world. It’s estimated that 80 percent to 95 percent of all teenagers will have acne at some point before reaching adulthood. For some of them, the acne will continue to plague them well into adulthood. Although males and females get acne at the same rate, males usually have more severe cases.
There’s not one main cause of acne. Several factors determine if a person will develop the disorder or not. Hormones, bacteria, medications, stress, and certain products can all contribute to the development of acne. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for acne. The goal of any acne treatment is to reduce the symptoms and prevent scarring. A dermatologist may prescribe an acne medication, but there are also ways to treat acne without a prescription.
At Home Acne Treatments
There are ways to decrease your chances of developing acne. If you already have it, you can take steps to lower the number of outbreaks you have. Here are some things you should always do to protect your skin:
1. Keep your face clean. Washing the skin removes dead skin cells and oils that can clog the pores. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not dirt that leads to acne. The culprit is oil. Having oil filled pores can lead to inflammation, which then develops into acne.
Don’t wash your face too often. Once or twice a day should do the trick. Avoid harsh scrubbing as that can make acne worse.
2. Use hypoallergenic products. Some shampoos, sunscreens, and even cosmetics can irritate the skin. Hypoallergenic products are less likely to product allergic reactions.
3. Although stress is not known to cause acne, it can make the situation worse. According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, failing to get enough sleep and dealing with large amounts of stress can worsen a mild case of acne.
4. Never pick or squeeze blackheads or whiteheads. This can damage the skin and lead to permanent scarring. You can have a dermatologist perform an extraction or use over the counter medications to help the problem.
If you can’t treat your acne without a prescription, then it’s time to see a dermatologist. You should also see a dermatologist if you experience excessive redness, itching or swelling of the affected area. Also seek medical attention if pus-like drainage seeps from the skin.
