Facetune. Perfect Me. Pretty Up. The relentless rise of the selfie culture has brought with it a legion of apps with skin-smoothening filters, each one designed to airbrush your complexion to perfection. In this never-ending race for perfection, young people are being introduced to unrealistic beauty standards that hurt the way they view themselves. In a community, wherein so much pressure is built around the physical appearance of an individual, the occurrence of acne and scars is seen as something almost unnatural and ugly. However, it’s anything but that- your skin is skin, it is supposed to have texture, it is supposed to be flawed and that’s what makes you beautiful.
While we have talked a lot about acne and scarring, we haven’t explored the mental health aspects of these yet. Did you know that acne can hamper one’s self-esteem and confidence, which can further be linked to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression? So, in an attempt to destigmatise acne and empower others to embrace the skin they’re in, we spoke to mental health counsellor, Arouba Kabir, to know how to overcome social anxiety related to acne and scars. If you find yourself stuck ruminating on your breakouts, we’re listing down the best ways to refocus and set a new, healthier cycle in motion.
How To Overcome Social Anxiety Associated With Acne
Stop Judging Yourself
We compare ourselves with unrealistic beauty standards we see on social media platforms and criticize ourselves. Understand that nobody is perfect and beauty is from within. Plus change is constant and If we have any stressful event going on in our life, be it joining a new college, exploring a relationship, travelling, it will show on our physical body. So, Acceptance is the key.
Become Skin Positive
While the times have changed today, self-acceptance is still a phenomenon that many struggle with. We may not be able to prevent ‘why me’ moments from being a recurring theme in our lives, but if we learn to embrace our imperfections and accept every inch of our being- skin, and bone – we’ll have more time to celebrate and less to complain about.
Get Help
“Contact a dermatologist and educate yourself with the right skincare routine and the products that work well with your skin type to effectively combat acne,” says Arouba Kabir. Don’t fall for uncertified beauty products with false claims which may do more harm than good.
Tailor Your Lifestyle
“Incorporating a healthy nutritious diet goes a long way in maintaining your skin health,” says Kabir. It has been found that stress leads to increased incidences of acne breakout and thus one should try and participate in various activities like meditation or yoga that help them distress. Drinking adequate water and maintaining a proper sleep schedule also play a vital role in maintaining your skin’s health.
Explore Psychodermatology
Since skin diseases have the capacity to cause mental health disturbances by inducing doubts pertaining to one’s self-confidence and leading to anxiety or depression- consulting a mental health practitioner can definitely help you deal with these emotional issues through CBT therapy or various other forms.
PSA: Love the skin you’re in!
Featured Image: Instagram