Acne is an inflammatory skin condition caused by the blockage of hair follicles. It can be a number of things that cause this clogging of pores, but usually it’s caused by dead skin and oil build up. Over time, follicles can become infected due to bacteria entered through the skin barrier, causing pain and eventually (in some cases), scarring. According to the NHS, roughly 95% of young people aged 11-30 will be affected by acne at some point, although the extremity of this varies. “You’ll grow out of it” is a common phrase associated with such conditions as acne in teenagers. However, according to NHS sources, around 3% of adults over the age of 35 report suffering with acne in their adult life.
Acne, along with other chronic skin conditions, do not only affect the physical appearance of the sufferer. A 2020 journal by The All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin published that “98% of respondents reported that their skin condition had affected their emotional wellbeing” along with “93% of respondents report[ing] that their skin condition had affected their self-esteem”. The most concerning statistic from this study came from “some respondents spontaneously described having thoughts of hopelessness and/or suicidal ideation”, currently up to 5%. This, in part, may be due not only to a lack of confidence or self-hatred, but because having a fulfilling social, physical and romantic life can feel like an impossible goal for many. An acne sufferer responded to the survey saying “It's hard to let anyone love you, look at you, kiss you, etc, when you feel and look disgusting”.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released guidance on 25th June, regarding caring for acne sufferers wellbeing and mental health. The report highlights the recommendation of direct mental health support for those with extreme forms of acne. Although it is not always the skin condition itself that causes a mental health disorder, it can considerably contribute to the formation of such disorder: as shown in the report, acne has been known to “exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions”. One example of such support is their recommendation that mental health referrals are offered to acne patients directly, through their doctor or dermatologist. Dr Paul Chrisp (director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE) was quoted in the document saying “Not everyone with acne will experience high levels of psychological distress, but it’s important that we find ways to support those who do.”.
Resources:
Acne
NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/
Acne vulgaris: management
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng198/chapter/Rationale-and-impact
Consider mental health support for some people with acne, says NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
