Studies Show that Acne Affects Personal and Professional Lives of Women
One of the most common skin conditions, acne affects around 650 million people worldwide. But despite its prevalence, many acne sufferers experience immense shame and embarrassment around their acne and its resulting scars, especially adult women. Today I’m taking a deep, research-backed dive into the ways acne affects the personal and professional lives of women.
Acne takes a toll on women mentally, emotionally, and socially
In a 2021 study published in JAMA Dermatology, researchers from the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine conducted a series of interviews among 50 adult women with acne. They were especially curious about how living with acne affected both the mental and emotional health of their female participants.
The results were concerning: many women said their acne made them feel less mature, less qualified, and less confident at work. Themes of depression, anxiety, and social isolation were also common.
Due to the prominence and visibility of facial acne, researchers have suggested that the social, psychological, and emotional problems experienced by acne sufferers can actually be worse than those experienced by individuals with other more physically-limiting illnesses, such as asthma, epilepsy, and arthritis.
Women said their acne made them feel less mature, less qualified, and less confident at work.
Acne scarring can be even more damaging
Unfortunately, acne often results in scarring. According to a 2021 article in Healio, over 40% of people with facial acne develop resulting acne scars. Like acne, acne scars can take both a mental and emotional toll on women.
A survey of 300 European men and women revealed that 37% of participants said acne scars impacted their daily schedules, and 66% reported regularly avoiding social situations such as having their photo taken, going in public without makeup, eating or drinking certain foods or beverages, or spending time in the sun. Furthermore, participants who developed acne scars felt their appearance interfered with their professional relationships and chances of future employment.
While acne and acne scars are often the most noticeable to the individual who is affected by them, facial blemishes can alter the perceptions of others as well. According to a multinational study in Dermatology and Therapy, people with acne scars were less likely to be considered attractive, confident, happy, healthy, and successful, and more likely to be perceived as insecure and shy compared with those with clear skin.
If left untreated, acne scars can persist for life, permanently serving as a visible reminder of the condition.
What causes acne?
Acne occurs when your hair follicles become clogged with oil (sebum), bacteria, and dead skin cells, causing the follicle to become inflamed. When the follicle bulges, it produces a whitehead; when it remains open to the surface it darkens, resulting in a blackhead. Certain factors, including genetics, hormones, contact with an oily substance, and prolonged rubbing of an object against the skin (think: wearing a mask, helmet, or headset) are all major causes of acne. “Popping” whiteheads or trying to “dig out” blackheads will worsen the condition and leave behind pitted or keloid scars.
Treating acne and acne scars early can improve the lives of women
Treating acne and acne scars as early and aggressively as possible using a physician-recommended treatment plan is the best way to both improve acne and decrease the risk of long-term scarring. If scarring does occur, prescribing treatments that stimulate collagen and elastin in the skin has proven most effective.
Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon for your acne treatments
The JAMA Dermatology article reported that many women feel frustrated with the efficacy and/or side effects of the acne medications prescribed by their dermatologists, and that finding a good dermatologist is often difficult.
Treating acne and acne scars as early and aggressively as possible can improve acne and decrease the risk of long-term scarring.
Plastic surgeons often have a broader perspective of a patient’s skincare concerns than other disciplines and can offer more advanced treatment options specific to your skin type. As a board-certified female plastic surgeon, I offer a few different treatments for acne and acne scars at my Richmond practice:
Microneedling, also called collagen induction therapy, uses dozens of tiny needles to create “micro” wounds in the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production deep within the dermis. This quick in-office treatment can improve the look of acne scars, uneven skin texture, and hyperpigmentation. Plus, microneedling can reduce the size of your pores, helping prevent future outbreaks.
I also offer RF microneedling for patients who want to take their skin remodeling to the next level. RF microneedling uses controlled radiofrequency energy to heat deep layers of skin, causing the skin to tighten and contract, and encouraging cell turnover. Essentially, RF microneedling helps you achieve even smoother, younger-looking skin in addition to improving its texture and tone. Read more about the differences between RF and traditional microneedling in my last blog.Note that if you have any active acne breakouts or open skin lesions, you should wait to have microneedling until your skin clears up.
Fractionated CO2 laser skin resurfacing can also treat acne scars, discoloration, and other common skin concerns by removing your dead outer layers of skin and replacing them with healthy new ones. I prefer to use the CO2RE laser because it delivers beautiful results without the invasiveness of other ablative lasers, resulting in less downtime. Like microneedling, you can have laser skin resurfacing performed on oily, acne-prone skin, but you should not have it done on active acne.
Medical-grade skincare products can be very effective at clearing up blemishes and improving hyperpigmentation; just make sure to look for formulas that contain key ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, and retinol. If you are interested in starting or enhancing an anti-acne skincare regimen, I encourage you to schedule a skincare consultation with me.
Healthy skin requires a whole-body approach
Remember, everyone’s skin is different, and there are plenty of factors aside from a good skincare regimen that affect your skin quality, including diet, exercise, sleep, and overall well-being. And while it’s easy to compare your skin to Instagram influencers, beauty bloggers, and your friends, keep in mind that healthy skin isn’t always flawless skin—meaning that even when you’re doing all of the right things, you can still experience breakouts or oily skin. That’s why I encourage all of my patients to practice loving themselves exactly as they are—so that they can enhance, not change, their already beautiful selves.
Schedule your skincare consultation with Richmond’s Dr. Aboutanos
Dr. Sharline Aboutanos is a board-certified female plastic surgeon in Richmond, Virginia with over a decade of plastic surgery experience. She understands the toll that acne can take on your personal and professional life, and can help you create a customized treatment plan to tackle it once and for all. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Aboutanos online or call (804) 355-3410.