10 things to be aware of around someone suffering from acne

Acne is a real concern and it’s not an issue to be taken lightly.

Let’s face it. Nothing’s worse than being the only person among your friends to suffer from horrible acne. It strips you of your confidence and bothers you pretty much all the time. While some people understand your insecurities, some people don’t.

Those who are blessed with good skin may think we’re just being over-sensitive, but no we’re not. Here’s a list of things you must be aware of if you’re with someone who suffers from acne.

1.    Never ever touch the face

I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this rule. Every touch on our face feels like a call for new acne. Surely, you may think it’s harmless to stroke our face but deep inside, we’re panicking about all the bacteria you’re transferring onto our skin. This is the golden rule – hands off!

2.    Don’t act like a skin expert

“Maybe you should try…” Trust me, I’ve tried so many things. And no, it’s not as easy as washing your face twice a day because that’s like the most basic skincare routine.

3.    Stop sharing your scary skincare routine

I’ve had people suggesting their own skincare routine – either using shampoo or shower gel. That sounds like a death wish. If that’s the way to get clear skin, there would be no one on Earth with acne.

4.    We’ve tried the diet/cutting method

No, cutting doesn’t mean cutting off our skin whatsoever in this context. It means cutting out food believed to cause acne, mainly dairy, sugar and carbohydrates. You have no idea how difficult it is to do so, but I’ve tried it after reading so many successful stories online. But it’s not a miracle cure for everybody. I once put so much hope into in and forced myself to stay away from my favorite ice cream and pizzas but it just didn’t work for me.

5.    We’ve also tried countless skincare products

Cleanser, toner, exfoliant, moisturizer, scrub, AHA or BHA exfoliant, serums, oils, face masks… You name it, we’ve tried it. I dread to think how much money I’ve wasted on expensive vitamin c serums or organic rose hip oils that claim to work wonders but ended up doing absolutely nothing to my skin.

6.    Don’t nag us on the makeup

“You’re getting acne because you wear makeup all the time.”  I’ve heard that thousands of times. Put yourself in our shoes and you too will reach out for makeup because that’s the only thing that’ll boost your confidence. While some people have the guts to embrace their acne problems in public, there are some of us who prefer to wear makeup. So please stop judging our decision.

7.    Acne problems are mentally painful as well

Sometimes, we’ll just get cozy in bed and start Googling the causes of acne and ways to cure them. It gets to the point where we’re so sick, tired, annoyed and frustrated of it that we’ve became so desperate and will try any natural remedies – such as using cucumbers, tomatoes, honey, turmeric and egg whites.

8.    Travelling is a huge hassle for us

Whenever I travel, my skincare bag always contributes to 1/3 of my luggage weight. I’ve tried toning down the products by bringing only the essentials – cleanser, toner and moisturizer – only to have my skin hitting the worst condition ever.

9.    It’s not just a problem with pimples or spots, but scars as well

You may think once a pimple pops, everything will be better. Scarring is a common problem and it can take years to fade away.

10. Don’t tell us to get over it

We can’t see it, but we can feel it. We can feel our skin getting greasier and dirtier as the day pasts, and it’s actually a feeling of disgust.

Now that you know how acne has made lives difficult, show some understanding to your friends or family who are struggling with it. And please don’t look at us with a disgusted expression, it really hurts our feelings.