Why Battling Acne is not Vanity
Acne seriously affected my life. When I went off the birth control pill and experienced serious post-pill acne, I went from being successful and outgoing to literally shying away from the world, desperate to clear my skin. I tried everything and dedicated all my available resources – time, money and energy – to clearing my skin.
My family and friends thought I was nuts. They would constantly tell me that my skin was not ‘that bad’ and minimize my feelings. Even though they were trying to make me feel better, it didn’t help at all. Instead, they made me feel as though I was dramatic and vain – and I actually started to feel ashamed about trying so hard to heal my skin. Was I too self-involved and losing perspective? I started to do all my research and skincare shopping somewhat secretly, and I felt as though I couldn’t talk to anybody about how much my skin was affecting me. I felt awful – inside and out.
My acne experience was incredibly traumatic and isolating.
Here is the truth.
- Acne is a medical condition that affects over 50 million people in the United States.
- Acne is not just a minor skin condition, but the body’s way of communicating to us that something within needs to be balanced.
- If acne is left untreated, the underlying causes of acne can lead to more serious conditions such as metabolic dysfunction, infertility, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders and more.
- This is why acne shows up right on your face – red, inflamed and pulsating – it wants and needs your attention.
- Most medical professionals have truly forgotten how to treat acne, which means many people do not have access to the wisdom that is able to solve the problem for good – which means they have lost hope.
- Women who suffer from acne experience more anxiety and depression than women without acne. They also have lower self-esteem.
I am here to validate your experience. Acne sucks. It affects the quality of your life. It makes you anxious and depressed. It is a sign that something within needs to be balanced. It is not okay, and it is absolutely normal for you to feel the way you feel. You are not vain, dramatic or too sensitive. You are dealing with a medical condition that is displayed on your face – for the while world to see.
And everyone that experiences acne knows that this is a very, very big deal.
So please feel free to feel all the feels – cry, get angry and let it out. Do not keep it inside, and do not allow this experience to lead to shame and isolation, which only makes things worse.
Do not allow acne to define you, but do recognize that when you are confronted with a beast such as acne you must acknowledge what is really is – a traumatizing medical condition that can seriously affect your self-esteem and your entire life.
You are not vain, or too sensitive, or too obsessed about your physical appearance. You are dealing with a medical condition, not a trivial skincare inconvenience – and your body and mind are reacting accordingly.
How do you proceed?
1. Feel all the feels – unapologetically. Do not allow others to minimize your feelings or allow you to feel ashamed, vain, too sensitive or overly dramatic. This shit is real.
3. There is always a reason for acne, which means there is always a solution.
I am going to repeat that. There is always a reason for acne, which means there is always a solution. Never lose hope.
4. Get help. Find someone who deeply understands and regularly heals acne from the inside out. Be sure to check out my 7-Week Clear Skin Program – I have healed thousands of women with acne as a Naturopathic Doctor since 2007 and I REALLY understand the root causes and solutions for acne.
5. Make an action plan for yourself, and don’t try and do this on your own. When you are feeling overwhelmed and hopeless is exactly when you need the right support.
