National Acne Survey Findings Were Just Released, and They May Shock You

With Acne Awareness month just a week away, experts and patients alike are ready to talk about the condition. While almost everyone has experienced acne from time to time, some have suffered more than others, with the experience negatively impacting their mental health, confidence and more. During a recent Zoom with Face Reality Skincare, the number-one professional acne brand, we learned about findings from the brand’s National Acne Survey, and they were illuminating.

Alex Hernandez, aesthetician and Lead Educator at Face Reality Skincare, presented the findings of the survey, which mainly focused on the intersection of acne and mental health. The majority of respondents revealed that having acne has had a negative impact on their confidence, with just 0.4 percent saying it had a “not at all negative” impact and 85 percent saying it had an “extremely negative” or “very negative” impact. 91 percent of people said their acne has made them feel anxious.

The insecurity and anxiety that can come with acne can also negatively influence people in professional and social settings. The survey found that 30 percent of people felt their acne put them at a disadvantage in job interviews, and 43 percent admitted it has affected their performance at work or in school. Socially, acne begins wreaking havoc young. More than half of respondents in their teens and 20s recall being bullied due to their acne, and 69 percent say they’ve avoided social situations because of the condition. Social media has largely added to the self-consciousness acne-sufferers experience, with 98 percent saying social media creates unrealistic expectations about having perfect skin.

This conversation is more pressing than ever as more than half of people saw their acne worsen during the pandemic. When asking over 1,000 people in the U.S. how acne makes them feel, the most common answers were “alone, ugly, ashamed, powerless, unlovable, dirty, less than, exposed, hopeless and undeserving.” If you suffer from acne, you’re not alone, and you can find products and treatments that can help you if you look in the right places.

One of the most frustrating aspects of acne is trying to find something that works to eradicate the condition, which can feel impossible. The survey found that 59 percent of respondents in their 30s spent 10 or more years trying to achieve clear skin. A majority of people, 83 percent, have been frustrated with the lack of efficacy in acne products. According to the survey, the most success found when using professional products or having professional treatments done. Talk to your dermatologist or aesthetician about skin-care products that can help you, or seek out the proper treatment that could give your skin the reboot it needs.

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