Living in the age of social media and selfies has had a huge impact on the way we share information and images, especially in the way we share information and images about ourselves. There are many benefits and positive uses to this ever growing way method of presenting ourselves online and to our peers, but many experts have seen that the continual rise in the taking of and posting of selfies has left young people more self-conscious of their looks than ever before. Young people struggling with acne in particular are increasingly aware of how their face appears on various social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Dr. Jerry Tan, a member of the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada, has seen many young people who expressing not only a strong distaste for their apparent acne, but higher levels of self-consciousness due to a digital world. He states, “The face is such a socially visible site, it leads to embarrassment, becoming self-conscious, sometimes social avoidance and most importantly and probably under-recognized in a lot of patients, it can lead to depression.”
Teens in particular are really susceptible to the negative effects of acne as they are at a phase in life where developing their sense of self and where feeling confident among their peers is especially important. Acne has always been an issue among teenagers who have dealt with bullying and teasing at times due to their acne problems.
Dr. Tan adds, “There are lots of issues that have developed because of the way we currently communicate with each other. A lot of the social media is based on faces, I mean Facebook. It becomes a real issue with socialization, particularly in a time of their life where they are maturing differently, at different speeds.”
The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada has also been studying how acne effects emotional health and contributes to the likelihood of developing depression among young people. They found that acne affects up to 90 percent of teenagers to some degree with 10 percent of those effected suffering from some acne-related depression as a result of their struggle. Sometimes it’s hard for teenagers to have a long-term vision so their current acne struggles may seem overwhelming.
Parents can help their teens by looking out for signs of depression including social withdrawal and by seeking professional help from an experienced dermatologist who can treat their acne. Visit the Skin and Vein Center today to learn more, and see what you can do to get rid of your acne, so you can keep on taking selfies without feeling self-conscious!