The answer is definitely yes. Acne afflicts a large percentage of the population, both adolescent and adult. This disorder is often dismissed as a superficial issue associated with growing up; however studies have shown that it is much more than that.

Research has demonstrated that acne patients can suffer from higher anxiety levels than even cancer patients. Acne in any form has psychological consequences because it affects our self image and, consequently, our self esteem. If the levels of anxiety are elevated enough, acne patients can display signs of social withdrawal.

Social Anxiety due to Acne Affects Teenagers and Adults

The media is placing more and more emphasis on perfection. Young people are more vulnerable to these messages, but if their insecurities are not resolved, they will carry their baggage into adulthood. This means that not only are adolescents prone to anxiety and stress due to acne, but so are adults.

Severe acne problems and the resulting scars can eventually cause an impact on the patient's daily life and lead to such problems as social phobia and anxiety disorder.

Social phobia causes overcoming fear that others are staring and judging your imperfections. Social phobia produces embarrassment about your appearance and makes social events stressful. Eventually social phobias can lead to physical and psychological repercussions.

Anxiety disorders are the result of severe stress brought upon by severe acne. Anxiety disorders have similar symptoms as social phobias. The important factor to remember is that both problems are treatable, and if not treated, they can lead to poor performance in school and poor social skills.

Treating with Acne Problems

Seek medical attention if you are suffering form anxiety brought on by acne. It is also a good idea to seek not only therapy for the anxiety, but also to seek help for your acne problem.

The treatments for acne problems vary in relation to the extent of the acne. More severe cases of acne may need strong products, while mild acne might just need over the counter products. Regardless of which case you have, you should always maintain a regular skin care routine to keep your skin clean and clear.

The best way to do this is to:

*Cleanse your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser.

*Exfoliate at least once a week if you are a teenager and more frequently as you age

*Use a toner to get rid of any remains of dead skin, oil or dirt

*Moisturize your skin

The cleansing routine is quite simple and an added help for those of you suffering from anxiety caused by acne problems.