Healing From Within: How Acne Treatment Transforms Mental Health

Acne always tends to show up at the worst times. Zits appear on your face the morning of your major presentation. They pop up right on your nose the afternoon before a big date. Or your wedding. Or while you’re boarding a plane for your vacation. If you suffer from acne of any severity, you know it’s not just the zits themselves that are hard to deal with, but the stress and embarrassment—a feeling most people can relate to. In fact, at least 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 have fought the acne fight. Even people going into their 30s and 40s can experience adult-onset acne and scarring. So, can acne affect mental health? The answer is, sadly, yes. Very much.

But you don’t have to suffer in silence. The entire Apex Dermatology team stands with you and we can help! In fact, today, we will talk about acne treatments and acne mental health support with our skilled and compassionate Aesthetic Nurse, Jess Larkin, from our Westlake location. From her own personal experience, she understands what it’s like to fight the physical and emotional battle with acne. This kindled her passion for dermatology and aesthetics because she wanted to understand how to help more people overcome acne and experience the confidence of healthy, clear skin. Through extensive training, she has earned the level of Certified Acne Expert in Northeast Ohio who helps patients get results with acne treatments and advanced acne scar removal techniques. Just as importantly, she strives to help her patients get back that feeling of mental well-being they all deserve.

Acne vulgaris is the medical term for a range of mild to severe skin pore clogs that usually erupt on the face. They can also appear on the neck, back, shoulders, and chest. Excess oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells block the pores, causing pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, and even painful cysts. In addition to physical pain and scars, acne can be emotionally distressing.

Acne can range between mild, moderate, or severe. Minor acne can cause you a troublesome pimple here or there now and then. Moderate acne involves more frequent and noticeable outbreaks with frequent blackheads and pimples. Severe acne is painful and inflammatory, involving larger, redder, more painful, and obvious cystic breakouts that leave pits and scars behind—including emotional scars.

Several types of acne with a variety of causes exist, but all of them involve varying degrees of plugged pores and emotional distress:

• Blackheads-These usually have a flat, dark surface, often making the pores look enlarged.
• Whiteheads-Closed, white-looking clogged pores.
• Papules-A small, red, painful bump.
• Pimples-Papules usually morph into pimples with the classic puss-filled bumps.
• Nodules-Larger, painful, solid lumps under the skin’s surface.
• Cysts-The worst, biggest, puss-filled, red, painful, lumps that can erupt and cause scarring.

Simply put, clogged pores cause acne. But what causes the pores to clog in the first place? Science is still digging for answers, but we do know quite a bit about the triggers and aggravating factors. While some are simply part of your genetic or hormonal makeup, there are some lifestyle factors you may be able to tweak to lessen breakouts and prevent scarring. For instance:

• Hormonal fluctuations are one of the biggest triggers of acne breakouts. The hormonal roller coaster of puberty, female menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and the stress hormone cortisol have all been linked to acne.
• There are strong links between acne and genetics. If one or both of your parents had acne, you have a greater chance of experiencing acne too.
• Stress and its signature hormone, cortisol, deserve another mention because the links are so strong.
• High humidity and environments with a lot of air pollution seem to aggravate acne breakouts.
• Wearing tight-fitting clothing that causes friction and rubbing on acne-prone areas (hats, helmets, headgear, scarves).
• Using personal care products with a lot of grease or oil (lotions, creams, makeup, etc.).
• Greasy, hot environments (like working in a kitchen), as well as cold, dry weather and environments (see this article for a thorough explanation).
• Picking at acne can spread acne-causing bacteria around, making breakouts worse (so please avoid doing this).
• Some medications medications have acne as a side effect.
• Poor nutrition has also been linked to acne breakouts, especially diets high in sugar. Strive to eat a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables containing beta-carotene and vitamin C—both of which reduce inflammation.

Acne and mental health are tied together more tightly than many people realize, and recent studies show how both acne itself and the follow-on scarring are emotionally damaging. Often, the causes of acne are related to other systemic health issues that may impact mental health even further. The hormonal roller coaster of puberty, for instance, has its own mental health challenges, even without acne. Acne just makes those issues worse, mentally and emotionally. Stress can make acne worse, and acne can make stress worse. It’s a vicious cycle.

So, in addition to the physical scarring, the emotional scarring cannot be ignored and must be considered when seeking treatment for acne. The American Academy of Dermatology, in fact, lists all the following mental health problems as being either caused or exacerbated by even mild acne:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Poor quality of life
• Loneliness
• Poor self-image

Larkin agrees, “Acne can quickly and significantly impact self-esteem and lead to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. Self-blame and becoming ashamed of your physical appearance can impact one’s self-image immediately.”

The body is one, fully connected organism where the mental and physical are interconnected. Because mental health and stress can have an impact on acne breakouts, we at Apex Dermatology feel that mental health support is an essential part of the acne treatment process. Lowering stress, encouraging healthy nutrition, rest, hydration, making changes in personal care products and habits, and overall good health can have a positive impact on acne treatment.

Working with a healthcare practitioner like Larkin who understands your struggle on a personal level is a game-changer when working with acne.

“My personal experience with acne has influenced my approach to patient care with extra patience and meeting the patient where they are,” says Larkin. “Being open and vulnerable about my acne journey gives patients hope that clear skin is an option for everyone and that their feelings of frustration are valid.”

At Apex Skin, we intentionally address both the physical aspects of treating acne along with acne mental health support. This two-pronged approach helps build confidence as we clear the skin. “By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of acne, patients are more likely to achieve skin care goals,” says Larkin. “Stress can exacerbate acne, so providing education about acne can reduce feelings of helplessness, self-blame, and depression.”

But it’s important to remember that even if you have addressed the lifestyle issues mentioned above and acne is still a problem, inflammation, hormones, genetics, or some combination of the three may continue to cause you trouble that’s hard to avoid. That’s when professional dermatological help is all the more necessary. Successful, personally tailored acne treatments and acne scar removal can help you chart a course toward a healthier, more confident, and acne-free future. And we can do it in an empathetic, supportive environment.

“If you are feeling like your acne is preventing you from being your best self, you want to be honest about that and know that you do not have to go through your acne journey alone,” stresses Larkin. “Your acne is not just going to clear on its own, you’re going to need to make changes and be open to trying new products and treatments.”

The type of acne treatment depends significantly on the type of acne you have, your lifestyle, and other medical concerns. At Apex Dermatology, we will work personally with you to determine which products and treatments would be the most successful. Some of these acne treatments may include:

• Retinoids
• Antibiotics and acids
• Benzoyl peroxide (best with certain skin types)
• Prescription medications
• Salicylic acid chemical peels
• Pharmaceutical-grade products

In addition to finding a treatment to clear up active acne breakouts, Apex Dermatology can also provide acne scar removal treatments such as:

• Dermal fillers
• Microdermabrasion
• Dermabrasion
• Chemical peels
• Punch excision
• Laser treatment

Larkin urges anyone with acne to schedule an appointment at Apex Dermatology right away. The sooner treatment begins, the more we can do to reduce and erase the scarring and get painful breakouts under control, which can help bolster your mental health and give you back your confidence.

Larkin’s personal acne struggle has given her a lot of insight into helping patients deal with the sometimes hopeless and helpless feelings that acne can generate. While those feelings are absolutely natural, she goes the extra mile to follow up with patients to make sure they don’t give up on acne treatment before it truly takes hold.

“A patient’s lifestyle and comfort level with dryness and anticipated reactions can make a huge impact on how quickly results are achieved,” says Larkin. “Consistency is key, and my approach incorporates frequent follow-ups to ensure patients follow through. I also make communication open to allow patients to send photos of concerns so I can reassure them and adjust treatment plans as needed. My goal is to prevent patients from discontinuing the products before they achieve their desired results.”

Overcoming acne and acne scars has given so many of our patients a new lease on their mental health, and we put that down to empathetic aesthetic nurses like Larkin who really “get it” when it comes to how acne makes people feel. Because they do know how it feels. We build confidence in patients and help them see their acne treatment all the way through its smooth, clear, healthy skin goal.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating acne, which is why personal consultation with an experienced acne expert matters so much. Here at Apex Skin, we will ask many questions, understand your medical history, and lifestyle, and then deeply examine your skin to devise a plan that fits your needs and achieves your goals. Plus, we will walk with you the whole way as you embark on the journey to better mental health by clearing up your acne.

Apex Skin has a full suite of pharmaceutical-grade, technologically advanced treatments and products that aim at the root causes of acne. The most important part of our acne treatment, however, is the personal connections with our nurses and dermatologists.
“My advice is to find a provider you feel comfortable with that you trust has your best interest at heart,” explains Larkin. “If you are not comfortable with your provider, find a new one. And if you don’t like that one, try someone else. Not every qualified provider is going to be your perfect match, but having someone you trust to follow through with recommendations is key.”

If you are struggling with social anxiety, low self-esteem, or lack of confidence because of acne, please reach out to us at Apex Dermatology. You are not alone. Not only do we have a wide range of treatments that can work, but we also have practitioners (like our incredible Jess Larkin from our Westlake office!) who are here because they understand what it feels like, and they care! Don’t give up.

Jess Larkin is an experienced medical aesthetic nurse that has been practicing in dermatology and aesthetics for many years. She is passionate about aesthetics and skincare and is dedicated to continually learning so she can offer her patients the best treatments to address their skin and body concerns. She has pursued new skills through certifications, hands-on training, and clinical experiences with the newest technologies including microneedling, chemical peels, acne expertise, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, body contouring, Botox and more.

Jess is dedicated to helping people find confidence through their healthy skin. Through her own personal skin struggles, she is able to relate to her patient’s frustrations and understand the negative effects problematic skin can create physically and emotionally.