When you have acne, sometimes it can be hard to face the world—but the truth is you’re not alone . In many cases, insecurity about breakouts can be caused more by worrying about what other people think, because you know that there’s a lot more to you than the appearance of your skin. So what can you do to boost your confidence when you’re in the midst of a flare-up? Here are a few positive steps you can take.
Turn to social media
Following picture-perfect celebrities (who have teams of professionals—and Photoshop—to help them look flawless) can make anyone feel not-so-great about themselves. Instead, look for people who aren’t trying to hide behind their acne. Search for #acne or #freethepimple and you’ll see young women and men, bloggers and even celebrities who want the world to know that acne isn’t holding them back. For the record, Kendall Jenner (one of the world’s top models) has been very vocal about her ongoing struggle with acne—and she has one of the most recognizable faces
Prop yourself up—don’t put yourself down.
If you’re getting together with friends or family, you may be tempted to open the conversation with negative comment about your skin. Instead, start the conversation with something positive—or give yourself a confidence-boosting mantra that you repeat to yourself when you feel insecure. This can be anything from “My outfit is so on-point today” or “I crushed that math test” to “I love who I am, acne and all.”
Surround yourself with positive people.
If you have a “friend” who always seems to point out your shortcomings or put you down, they’re probably not really your friend. Everyone needs a supportive community in good times and bad, and truth be told, there are a lot of things in life that are worse than an acne breakout. Surround yourself with others who appreciate the real you—and see well beyond the superficial, including the current state of your skin.
Enjoy your own company.
There are plenty of fun, productive things to do if you’re not in the mood to be with a bunch of people. Exercise, art or any other hobby can help channel negative thoughts into positive feelings—and you can do them alone. (The stress reduction may help reduce acne breakouts as well.) Once you find a solo activity you truly enjoy, you’ll see that you’ll forget all about your skin while you’re doing it.
Remember, acne is a common skin condition—not a reflection of you or your self-worth. Beauty comes from within, and no pimple (or multiple pimples) can stand in its way.