In a society that treasures physical appearance, having an acne breakout can be crushing. On most days, it's almost impossible to live up to unrealistic beauty standards. An acne outbreak only serves to compound the problem.
Physical appearance plays a significant role in social acceptance. In many cultures, the peer pressure to conform to impossible beauty standards is overwhelming.
Failing to meet the set beauty expectations may lead you to lose social status among your peers. For these reasons, an acne breakout is likely to have profound psychological impacts on your life.
People with acne are often ashamed by the breakout, and it affects their body image, lowers their self-esteem, and may lead to anxiety and depression. Acne may make you feel unattractive and force you to endure nasty comments.
Dig in and discover five powerful things you must bear in mind to soldier through the acne breakout.
1. My skin is Eternal, and I'm Unfazed by Small Setbacks
It truly is, and you need to recognize this fact as the reality. It may seem like your entire world is crumbling all around you when battling acne. But that's hardly the case. The breakout is simply another obstacle to overcome. A minor bump in the highway leading to your bright future.
Don't read too much into your breakout, as it's likely to lead you down a slippery slope.
Acne is a common skin problem for teenagers and young adults between 12 and 25 years.
Acne outbreaks in teens start between the ages of 10 to 13, and the problem may persist for 5 to 10 years and usually goes away during the early 20s.
Only 20% of the acne problems persist into adulthood.
In most cases, acne goes away on its own at the end of puberty.
Again, it's a skin condition that can be successfully treated with the proper treatment. Knowing that acne is somewhat of a rite of passage as a teenager makes the situation more bearable. It can strengthen your resolve to emerge unscathed and keep you from taking drastic measures that could potentially damage your skin.
A healthy skin care routine helps manage the condition. It helps prevent severe flare-ups and other terrible habits that could permanently scar and discolor your skin.
2. I Take Care of My Skin Because It Takes Care of Me
Your skin is a complex organ whose primary role is to form a protective barrier. Your skin is the first line of defense against radiation, toxins, and harmful pollutants. Despite the acne, your skin performs these critical roles daily to keep you safe and healthy.
During an acne breakout, your skin is fighting battles on many fronts. Besides having an excellent acne skincare routine, you can do more to be supportive .
For instance
Never pick at your pimples as it could cause your skin to inflame and compound the problem.
3. My Skin Is Healthy and Enroute to Recovery
It may not seem like it during an acne breakout, but your skin is relatively healthy. Its ability to weather the current storm depends on several factors, including your diet.
A diet made comprising low-glycemic foods keeps your skin healthy and lowers your risk of developing acne. Such foods are made of complex carbohydrates and are spread across whole grains, legumes, and unprocessed vegetables and fruits.
Consuming foods high in mineral zinc, antioxidants, and vitamins A and E is highly beneficial. These foods reduce inflammation resulting in fewer outbreaks to help you keep the condition under control.
Acne-friendly food choices include dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and orange fruits. Others include brown rice, beans, lentils, peas, and nuts. Since everyone is different, closely monitor the foods you eat to find out what works for you. A low-carb, high protein diet can lead to great results when battling acne in about 12 weeks.
Increasing your intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants such as fish and eggs is highly beneficial. They help to neutralize toxins in the body, reduce inflammation, and improve mental health.
4. Good Thoughts Radiate From My Face Like Sunbeams
Acne can take a toll on your emotional health leading to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and poor self-image. Suffice to say, the emotional, social, and psychological ramifications of acne shouldn't be taken lightly.
Working on your internal environment can help you emerge relatively unscathed from the acne phase of your life.
A positive attitude goes a long way here. Never dwell on the imperfections or spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. Create a list of positive affirmations and recite them several times a day.
Remember, even the most dazzling superstars with flawless skin passed through that stage.
Focus on what you love about yourself. Constantly remind yourself that you're a great person despite your skin condition.
Spend more time with people who make you feel good.
Seek ways to nurture your talents instead of focusing on your skin. Pick an element of your life that can allow you to shine and boost your self-esteem and enrich your personality.
Remember, there's so much more to you than the blemishes on your skin. Therefore, don't ruminate on the negative since there's so much more to you than your skin's appearance.
Put some effort into building a strong and positive personality, and your life will drastically improve.
5. My Skin is my Best Friend, and I Love It
How far would you go for your best friend? Would you abandon them in their hour of need? Probably not. You'd stick by their side until the storm blows over. That should be the case when your skin is going through an acne outbreak.
It's possible to become so wrapped up in your appearance that you forget that your skin needs your help. During a breakout, your skin is battling bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells blocking its pores. The whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, and other pimples resulting from these blockages cause a great deal of distress on the skin.
Instead of focusing on the blemishes, consider how you can help improve the situation -
- Washing the face twice daily with a mild cleanser and warm water and applying an oil-free moisturizer helps prevent oil buildup. Note, however, washing your face too many times may dry out the skin and aggravate the pimples. Be gentle with your skin. Scrubbing it with a rough washcloth may irritate and inflame the skin, which could worsen the breakouts.
- Resist the urge to pop or pick at the pimples as that could lead to inflammation and scarring.
- Use a topical acne treatment to deal with the blemishes. Over-the-counter remedies such as serums and creams may take a while to work but effectively prevent the formation of new pimples. So be patient and don't switch products too soon.
Takeaway
Acne has far-reaching social, psychological, and emotional effects. Instead of giving in to your fears, remain proactive and keep the condition from turning you into a victim. A positive mental attitude, a great skin care regimen, and a healthy diet are ideal when battling acne. It helps keep your skin healthy and minimizes the severity of the outbreaks to let you emerge relatively unscathed.
