Problems To Watch For When Your Teen Has Acne
At least 90% of adolescents in every country in the world have acne so, if your teen is suffering from acne, they’re certainly not being singled out. Nevertheless, a recent study by the American Medical Association reported that acne is one of today’s teenagers’ biggest worries. Acne problems aren’t limited to the actual skin disorder. They also extend to emotional and mental well-being. Without question, acne can affect self-esteem to the point where some kids don’t even want to leave the house and make excuses for not going to social functions. It seems unfair, doesn’t it? Just when your kids are beginning to get some ideas about who’s behind the face they see in the mirror, they’re distracted by bumps and blemishes. And that can be just as frustrating and depressing for parents as it is for their teens!
Emotional Side Effects of Acne
Living with acne can be very stressful, and that stress can cause the condition to worsen resulting in a vicious cycle that is difficult to stop. Many teens suffer emotionally from poor skin due to society’s emphasis on beauty and perfection. Parents can encourage their teenagers not to let acne run their lives, and stress the importance of a positive attitude and the resolve to seek treatment. But, no matter how much teens try to overcome the difficulties of acne, it will still have a profound effect on their life, not just physically but also emotionally.
Social Isolation and Acne
Acne can lead to social anxiety and social withdrawal, especially in young people. Even when the acne is not severe, if teens are teased at school it can upset them. “Innocent” joking and teasing can make someone self-conscious and, over time, that can lead to a feeling of hating the way they look and, therefore avoiding situations where they could be judged or made fun of. For teens with acne, the “innocent” comments can turn their acne problem into social phobia, sometimes even resulting in an anxiety disorder.
Symptoms of Emotional Issues
Anyone who is suffering with acne knows this is not easy to deal with, either physically or emotionally yet it’s only relatively recently that doctors have started to acknowledge the way acne affects teenagers mentally and have given parents the tools needed to identify the potential emotional problems that acne can cause for their teen. These include anger, reduced self-confidence and self-esteem, embarrassment, frustration and social withdrawal. These affects are not always felt one at a time; oftentimes, one can lead to another and so on, leading to a downward spiral sometimes even to the point of depression and despair. Some of the symptoms parents should look for are poor behavioral patterns, lack of appetite, sleeping more or sleeping less, and feelings of being unworthy.
There are many stresses in your teenager’s life and acne is just one of them, but many adults don’t even realize that kids are suffering. The bottom-line is that parents need to talk to their kids. Not just about superficial things, and not just when there is trouble. If you start the habits of good communication when they’re young, you’ll form the foundation for a good relationship when they’re teenagers and you will be able to help them to successfully navigate all the potential pitfalls of their teen years.