As common as acne is, it still remains one of the biggest self-confidence issues that teens and adults deal with. No matter how severe or minor it can be, it becomes one of the worst first world problems that we face every day.
“It’s a part of life but everyone hates it; sometimes you get it as an adult too and that sucks.” Junior Mikayah Lively said, “I haven’t really had acne that much and I feel that if you get bullied for something so common, it’s wrong.”
According to the Academy of Dermatology, acne affects between 40 and 50 million Americans. While acne usually begins in puberty and affects almost 100% of teenagers, acne is not restricted to any age group. In fact, acne affects 20% of adults between the ages of 25 and 44.
“Honestly acne is kind of a pain, it looks ugly and I realize that everyone gets it but it can be embarrassing at times,” said Junior Shabriyya Buksh. “It leads to being self-conscious which isn’t the best for your self-esteem but I think we need to realize that no matter what; everyone is beautiful.”
Acne can be an obstacle in the goal to love ourselves. Throughout our lives, we have to understand that things like acne don’t define us, but how we deal with it does. This includes the occasional compliment to your friend, coworker, or even parent, showing how much you care.
Common tips to reduce acne are to wash your face twice a day (any more than that will dry your skin of its natural oil and cause your face to become irritated) and treat affected areas without touching your face constantly. It is also a proven fact that 10-20 minutes of protected sun exposure a day is helpful for reducing acne as well, and as cliche as it sounds, drink lots of water.
Some medications require a prescription from your doctor, while others can be found at beauty stores such as Sephora and Ulta. Our recommended products would be Murad Rapid Acne Relief, which takes care of pimples in 6 hours, or Peace Out Pimple Patches, which can be applied overnight for Acne relief. Always make sure not to apply an excessive amount or else your skin might dry out and start to peel. While using harsh acne medications always remember to wash your face twice a day and moisturize accordingly.
In high school, peers can be judgemental and hurtful with certain comments, but it is important to remember that words don’t define us, neither do pesky pimples. What defines us lies in our hearts, not on our faces.
