Acne is one of the leading problems facing teens today. Not only does it cause physical changes to their appearance but it also carries a multitude of psychological effects which manifest themselves in various ways.
By:Flickr.com/Photos/Titlap
Teens may steer away from difficult and unwelcome social situations because they are self-conscious about their appearance. The social ramifications and what can be done to help teens understand and deal with these conditions and some of those social aspects are discussed here..
Believe it or not, many people not afflicted by acne are incapable of understanding the difficulties associated with the heinous condition and often accuse their acne-suffering friends of being overly sensitive about the problem. In recent years however, the problems faced by those who suffer from acne are being more widely addressed and the social and psychological effects being studied in more detail.
Acne is just as much about how the sufferer feels as it is about how they look. In a today’s society where so much importance is placed on how one looks, higher expected standards have been set concerning what is acceptable and unacceptable. This is especially important to the modern teen. Many young people have to face the pressures subjected to them by their peers and by what they think is expected of them. What they look like plays a crucial part in how others see them and value them and how they see and value themselves.
During surveys, teens suffering from acne said they felt ugly and often depressed. This is not always a temporary effect as these feelings can cross over into adulthood if the acne persists. Neither are these problems gender specific.
It is widely thought that there is no other single condition that can cause more psychological maladjustment between parents and their children which come out of feelings of general insecurity and of inferiority.
The importance of understanding the psychological effects associated with acne, especially in teens where self-worth is still being developed and nurtured, cannot be over emphasised. It is very difficult however, to find a conclusive method in which these factors can be studied because of the multitude of differences in the causes and severity of acne. It can also be difficult to separate the effects of acne from other social traumas that many, if not all, young people face.
It has been suggested that the best way to understand these effects is simply to listen so that you may find out how your son or daughter is coping with his or her acne and how it makes them feel. Help them understand that they are not alone, perhaps sharing your personal experiences whilst being careful not to come across as a ‘I went through the same thing and managed…’ type of parent. Let them know that acne is a very common and distressing condition amongst teens and adults alike and can be caused by many things that effect many people. Also make it clear to them that having acne doesn’t mean they are viewed as being dirty or having poor personal hygiene. Hygiene does not effect acne directly and it isn’t caused by not washing your face.
Help them to find out what is causing the acne and when you know its cause and what type it is, you can help them to begin treating it. This is the first step to getting them to feel better about their appearance and, in turn, about themselves.
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