By : Maria Krug
Source : Inklings News

I look down while walking through crowds of classmates hoping the fluorescent school lights won’t reveal the red bumps on my face. I shuffle through the halls praying to go unnoticed, only to be asked, “Why does your skin look like that?”

This is a scenario that many teenagers with acne (including me) have experienced. We try to play it off cool and then hastily change the subject, putting up a mask to hide our insecurity. Acne, as harmless as it may appear, can take a toll on teens’ mental health and immensely reshape self-love as well as self-esteem.

Acne is a skin condition that affects around 50 million Americans every year. It is formed due to blocked pores from the oils created from an imbalance of hormones. With some cases more severe than others, this is an issue I have dealt with for five years and I am only 16 years old.

The fact that acne is so common, one might expect there wouldn’t be any misconceptions about this condition. However, this is not at all the case.
“Wash your face,” they say. “It’s easy.” “Drink more water,” they say. “Take better care of your skin,” they say. These are all misconceptions that those lucky enough to be born with clear skin make about acne.

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