Acne is a common skin condition that causes pimples and blackheads to appear on the face or the body. People experience acne due to various reasons, stress, hormonal changes, poor sleep or even genetics. Acne is usually more prone when you are a teenager although, adults also deal with it.
Growing up, I used to see a lot of girls in movies waking up and realizing they have a pimple either on their forehead or their chin. They would then proceed to scream and make such a big deal out of it. You find a girl telling her parents she can’t go to school because she will be humiliated by the cool kids. I didn’t quite understand why it was such a big deal until someone asked me why I had breakouts on my face. That question hurt me because I was already struggling to be confident for a job interview. Having acne can cause self-esteem issues and it is always important to remember that.
That being said, here is a list of 6 things you should avoid saying to someone struggling with acne:
1. “What happened to your face?”
Anyone who has acne already knows that he/she has it. Asking this question usually makes the person feel more self-conscious. In the long run, the person may end up avoiding social interactions to avoid other people asking the same. If you notice that someone has acne it is usually best not to talk or ask about it.
2.”It’s that time of the month huh?”
During ovulation or period week a woman may experience one or two pimples. This is due to the drop in estrogen or progesterone levels. However, not every woman deals with pimples during that time. Asking someone this question may come off as rude or ignorant for that matter. This may also cause self-esteem issues.
3.”I think you should use this product, it worked for me…”
It is important to note that people with acne don’t usually use the same products. The reason is that not every skin is the same and there are different kinds of acne. The medication or product that worked for you may end up not working for someone else.
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4.”I have never had acne since I was a teenager because of ….”
Giving a person a list of reasons why you haven’t struggled with acne since you were young doesn’t comfort the person. What it does is, it makes a person feel like there is something he/she has been doing wrong. Unless someone asks why you have clear skin it is best to avoid pointing it out.
5.”You should always wash your face twice a day…”
This is good advice on how to maintain clear skin. However, it may come off as an insult to someone with acne for two reasons. One, the person could already have implemented this into their daily skincare routine. You pointing it out may make them feel like they aren’t trying at all. Two, someone could take it as you are calling him/her unhygienic.
6.”You should visit a Dermatologist; do you want suggestions?”
Your intentions may be good when recommending someone to a Dermatologist but it may not be the best thing to do. This is because you may not know someone’s situation. The person could already be under treatment and pointing out that they should see a dermatologist could discourage them from continuing with the process. Skin treatment usually takes some time and requires patience and they may give up at that moment even though they had started seeing some results.
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