Skin issues and fear often go hand in hand. Anxiety is a mental illness that affects many of us. It’s a feeling of impending danger or panic that often manifests as shortness of breath, increased heart rate, insomnia, and an inability to focus on current concerns.
When you’re uncomfortable in your own skin, such reactions can easily spiral out of control. While we tend to focus on the physical aspects of skin conditions, the emotional effects, such as: B.: fear, are just as big a problem—and often more debilitating.
As a teenager, I developed severe acne on my back, which recurred as an adult. My back suddenly became covered in large, red cysts, some as big as golf balls. People told me I was “lucky” it hadn’t spread to my face, but it felt like I was hiding a dirty secret.
New relationships were difficult; I didn’t want to get undressed in front of anyone. I stopped going to my usual spin classes when I caught a woman staring at me in the dressing room. Eventually it went away, but I still occasionally look at my back in the bathroom mirror, terrified that the acne will return like a horror movie sequel.
Skin anxiety can affect just about anyone, including R29 beauty editor Jacqueline Kilikita. “I’ve had hormonal acne since I was 11, but I’ve only recently started to worry about it,” she says.
“Working in the beauty industry, I often worry that the skin specialists or makeup artists I meet will judge my spots and scars or try to give me advice, even though I’ve tried just about everything, including medication, and it’s working and even affecting them.” Work Life.
“I’ve cancelled events and meetings because I feel panic and anxiety at the thought of people seeing me on a ‘bad skin day.’ In fact, most people don’t say anything, but I find it hard not to.” That’s how I feel.
After all, the link between skin and mental health is very real. For some people, it can be a vicious cycle. PR agent Lauren MacAskill suffers from a condition called dyshidrosis vesiculosus: blisters appear on her hands and feet.
“I couldn’t sleep because my skin was burning and I lay in bed crying,” she recalls, “because I knew it was the result of stress, which in itself caused me extra stress.”
When fitness entrepreneur Lucy Arnold developed adult acne, she was so scared she was afraid to leave the house and even missed a friend’s wedding. Although she won an award for her activewear brand Lucy Locket Loves, she shunned the
awards ceremony and didn’t accept any in person.
“In the fitness industry, there’s a lot of pressure to be perfect,” she says. “I used to wear makeup all the time – even when I was working out. Some customers asked me if my skin was sore, but others were less polite. One woman asked me how I was taking care of my skin.”
Chef Priscilla Casey, who suffers from rosacea, has a fear that her skin condition could flare up again at any time. “People might think I blush and point out that it’s ‘cute,’ but they don’t realise that I’m actually in the early stages of a rosacea flare-up and that I get a painful sting,” she explains.
Like Lauren, Priscilla has trouble sleeping. “I have nightmares, especially when something important is about to happen. I worry that I might have a serious attack, as has happened several times in the past.”
A quick search on Reddit reveals just how many people’s love lives have come to a standstill because of skin anxiety. “I’ve never had [a girlfriend],” one user wrote. “I think the main reason for my social anxiety is my bad skin.” Another said: “I hate my skin so much and it drives me crazy that I’m now a 29-year-old woman who has never had skin. She’s never been kissed and has no hope of finding someone who might actually be attracted to me (if you look closely enough).” While skin anxiety is common, it’s not always easy for skin positivity to treat it. When she sought help from the NHS for severe acne, she dismissed her concerns as unimportant. “I spent hours in front of the mirror analysing my skin and covering it up over and over again,” she recalls. “It was so bad.” But the doctor she saw was mainly interested in treating the acne itself and didn’t pay attention to her growing fears. “I asked for a referral to a dermatologist who might better understand what I was going through, but my GP discouraged the idea, saying:
“They’ll just give you [acne medication] Roaccutane – that’s what they do. ‘Do it. ‘” Many feel the severity of skin anxiety is being overlooked. A survey by the British Skin Foundation found that nine out of ten dermatologists felt the psychological impact of skin conditions was not taken seriously enough.
“This survey shows that dermatologists recognise that some patients experience psychological distress related to their skin conditions,” clinical psychologist Professor Andrew Thompson commented on the foundation’s website. “But not enough may be done to address the associated psychological consequences. “We clearly need more research aimed at treating patients with skin conditions. To develop effective psychological therapies or support for children and adults with skin conditions.”
Fortunately, the tide is slowly turning, and some dermatologists are treating skin conditions in the wider context of mental health. One of them is Dr. Alia Ahmed, a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation. “A
A psychodermatologist is a medically qualified doctor who has expertise in dermatology and can also treat psychological issues. ” She explains. “In psychodermatology, we not only treat skin conditions, but also their psychological issues. ”
Psychological impact. For example, someone with acne may fear social situations because of their skin. So, as well as treating the acne, techniques to overcome these feelings will be discussed.”
But is psychodermatology easily available on the NHS? “Yes, although the waiting time before the test is unpredictable,” says Dr. Ahmed. “Your GP or dermatologist can refer you to the nearest psychodermatology clinic, but this may not be in your area, and it is also important to be open about your skin fears.” “It may be helpful to discuss your feelings with your primary care doctor or dermatologist so that these problems are caught early,” says Dr. Ahmed. “Not all symptoms of low mood require medication; talk therapy can also help. Your GP can give you advice and sometimes you can self-medicate.”
Many people would rather put off their anxiety issues until their skin improves. But is this the best approach? “It depends on why the fear exists in the first place,” says Dr. Ahmed. Ahmed. “Delaying treatment for mental health issues is not ideal as these issues can be part of the skin problem and negatively impact treatment outcomes. The best approach is to treat both the mind and the skin.” Skin expert and Botanycl CEO Caroline Sims agrees.
Her severe acne led her to seek out herbal treatments, but while her acne improved, her anxiety did not go away. “I have struggled with anxiety for years, especially after a previous difficult relationship, and I was bullied a lot because of my appearance. It had a huge impact on my confidence. It was made worse when I had acne, and for Caroline, the best approach was to address both issues at the same time.” “If you only focus on your skin, you don’t know if
fear becomes another issue. I needed to combat the body dysmorphia symptoms that came with this abusive relationship, and found cognitive behavioral therapy really helped. I now go to counseling once a week to help with general anxiety.
Alternative or holistic therapies are another option.
Award-winning aesthetician Vaishaly Patel offers holistic treatments to clients with underlying anxiety disorders. “I offer craniosacral therapy, which is a very effective treatment that rebalances the body emotionally and physically,” she tells me. “It really helps release mental and emotional blocks. I also want a Ph.D. #1 recommendation.” In Amy’s case, big changes like a new job and a change in lifestyle have helped, but social media has also been a powerful tool. “I started following people on Instagram who had the same issues as me. When I saw other people going through similar things, I realized it was okay and that I was normal. It taught me the importance of being kind to myself. That’s when I really knew. For more advice on emotional support for skin conditions, visit Skinsupport.org.uk. The British Skin Foundation website is a source of knowledge for anyone struggling with skin problems, as is the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and the Changing Faces website, both of which offer expert advice and support. For more information on how to discuss skin conditions with your GP, click here.
