Acne & Depression

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Unfortunately, when acne appears (particularly in teens) it can result in depression which is severe in some cases.  It is important to be aware of the psychological effects of acne.  As well as depression, there can be lack of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth problems, poor body image and introverted anti-social behavior.  At the very least, a teen with acne can become embarrassed with a impact on how they see themselves.  In the worse cases, they can become suicidal.  Studies have shown that teens with severe acne can be at risk for depression and suicide attempts. 

Teens with acne tend to have a poor body image, feeling especially self-conscious and embarrassed about the state of their skin.  It becomes worse in summer when they cannot so easily hide behind their clothing and scarves.  They may become unwilling to participate in sports, go swimming or hang out on the beach.

Parents and teachers, in their attitude to acne, can go a long way to help a teen who is perhaps feeling a bit down about their acne by supporting them, and even helping with good treatment ideas, while protecting and repairing a teen's self esteem.  They need to understand that even mild acne can affect how teens feel about themselves and their skin.  Some of the signs of poor self esteem can be:

• A reluctance to make friends and develop the usual social skills.


• The fear of being ridiculed by others.


• Extreme shyness and a phobia about socialising.


• Missed school or work

Adults can help teens with any depression and other psychological problems caused by acne by:

• Learning and researching the basic information about acne.  What causes it etc.


• Teaching basic skin care from a young age so that when the teen years arrive, it is a natural routine anyway to keep their skin clean, to eat healthily, to drink plenty of water, to have a good night's sleep, to exercise regularly, and to get plenty of sunlight.  In fact if all those good habits are in place, they are less likely to get acne when their teens arrive anyway.


• At the first sign of a blemish or pimple, emphasis the cleaning routine and if necessary use an OTC acne treatment or natural treatment such as H-Acne to nip any outbreak in the bud.


• Don't be afraid to broach the subject with your teen if you notice any acne starting but of course at an appropriate time and with helpful advice.  If he or she does not want to take your advice, then provide the information in a round-about-way without being too obvious.  Some teens are too sensitive about the subject to talk openly.


• If you find nothing is helping with any acne outbreak and it is getting worse instead of better, perhaps now is a good time to take your teen to a dermatologist for advice and guidance. They will know the words to use to explain exactly what is happening to your teen and how to remedy the problem.


• Boys are often more withdrawn than girls and they do suffer more from acne anyway.  Always offer your support and help them find something they enjoy doing and at which they can do well if not excel.  Teens who are involved in plenty of outside activities will have less time to think about their acne and less time to feel depressed.

 However, if depression really becomes a problem, then you need to seek professional help for your child.  These are some of the signs that might indicate a more serious situation:

• Frequent crying.


• Lack of interest in food and eating.


• Mood changes and swings.


• Sudden changes or problems in behavior.


• Insomnia.


• Fatigue or general lack of energy.


• Withdrawing socially from family and friends.


• Performance problems that suddenly arise at school or at work.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/acne/acne-and-depression-more-than-skin-deep.aspx