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Social
And Psychological Effects Of Acne
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Acne
can have profound social and psychological effects.
These are not necessarily related to its clinical
severity. Even mild acne can be significantly
disabling. Acne can affect people of all ages but it
predominantly occurs during the teenage years,
approximately 85% of people between the ages of 12
and 25 develop acne.
What
Problems Can It Cause
The
psychological and social impacts of acne are a huge
concern especially because it affects adolescents at
a time they are developing their personalities.
During this time, peer acceptance is very important
to the teenager and unfortunately it has been found
that physical appearance and attractiveness is
highly linked with peer status.
In
recent years, open discussions between patients and
medical professionals have revealed the impact acne
has on one's psyche. The following are some of the
problems that patients with acne may face.
Self
esteem and body image
- Some
embarrassed acne patients avoid eye contact.
- Some
acne sufferers grow their hair long to cover the
face. Girls tend to wear heavy make-up to
disguise the pimples, even though they know this
sometimes aggravates the condition. Boys often
comment,
acne is not such a problem for girls
because they can wear make-up .
- Truncal
acne can reduce participation in sport such as
swimming or rugby because of the need to disrobe
in public changing rooms.
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continued...
Social
withdrawal/relationship building
- Acne,
especially when it affects the face, provokes cruel
taunts from other teenagers.
- Some find
it hard to form new relationships, especially with the
opposite sex.
- At a time
when teenagers are learning to form relationships, those
with acne may lack the self-confidence to go out and
make these bonds. They become shy and even reclusive.
The main concern is a fear of negative appraisal by
others. in extreme cases a social phobia can develop.
Education/work
- Some
refuse to go school leading to poor academic performance
and possibly future unemployment.
- Some take
sick
days from work, risking their jobs or livelihood.
- Acne may
reduce career choices, ruling out occupations such as modeling
that depend upon personal appearance.
- Acne
patients are less successful in job applications; their
lack of confidence being as important as the potential
employers' reaction to their spotty skin.
- More
people who have acne are unemployed than people who do
not have acne are.
- Many young
adults with acne seek medical help as they enter the
workforce, where they perceive that acne is unacceptable
and that they
should have grown out of it by now .
More
information on dermnetnz.com
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