Blemished and Bothered How Adult Acne Can Bring on the Stigma at Work and in Social Circles

Dealing with Adult Acne How It Can Affect Your Work and Social Life

Acne in Adults: The Ugly Truth about Social and Professional Stigma

Acne in Adults Can Bring Stigma at Work and Socially

Acne, oh acne. It’s bad enough dealing with it as a teenager, but apparently, it gets even worse for adults. A recent study has discovered that those pesky blemishes can actually ruin their social and professional lives. That’s right, folks! Your chances of making friends, getting close to others, and even posting a picture with someone who has severe acne decreases significantly. Ouch!

The researchers of this study found that people tend to stigmatize acne and let it affect their personal relationships and employment opportunities. Lead researcher Dr. John Barbieri, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, expressed his concerns, saying, “Acne is often wrongly perceived as merely a cosmetic issue. It’s important that people with this medical problem get access to treatment, just like any other condition.” So, let’s stop treating acne like the black sheep of medical issues, shall we?

Now, let’s dive a bit deeper into what acne actually is. Johns Hopkins explains that it occurs in a person’s hair follicles and oil glands. Normally, the oil from the glands travels up the hair follicles to the skin, keeping it moist and happy. But when those pesky skin cells decide to block the follicles and trap the oil, trouble starts brewing. Bacteria inside the follicles start having a wild party, resulting in the formation of pimples and cysts. Not the kind of party you’d want an invitation to, right?

To conduct this study, Barbieri and his colleagues obtained stock photos of four adults, including men and women with different skin tones. They then digitally altered the pictures, adding either mild or severe acne to the subjects’ faces. With over 1,300 participants, the researchers showed each person one of the 12 images and asked a set of questions about the person in the picture. The results were quite revealing.

Turns out, people were less inclined to hang out with individuals who had acne, especially if they had a darker skin tone. They were more likely to buy into stereotypes about people with severe acne, perceiving them as unhygienic, unattractive, untrustworthy, and even unintelligent. Talk about judging a book by its cover!

Interestingly, participants who themselves had or currently have acne showed less bias and stereotyping. Seems like they understood the struggle and were willing to give their fellow acne sufferers a chance. Good on them!

The findings of this study, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, should make insurance companies reconsider their stance on acne treatments. Barbieri emphasized the need for insurance coverage, pointing out that the social effects of acne can have a significant impact on someone’s life and livelihood. “Many insurers poorly cover acne and rosacea treatments, claiming that it’s cosmetic,” Barbieri stated. “Our study highlights the need for that narrative to change and for identifying approaches to reduce stigmatizing attitudes in the community.”

So, let’s rally together and fight against the discrimination faced by those with acne. It’s time to change the narrative and ensure that everyone, regardless of their skin condition, can thrive socially and professionally.

[source: Mass General Brigham, news release, Dec. 6, 2023]

image ### QUESTION Acne is the result of an allergy. See Answer

And there you have it, folks! Acne, the ultimate social and professional frenemy. Have you ever experienced acne’s ugly effects on your relationships or work life? Share your story in the comments below! Let’s support each other and crush the stigma together.