Acne: Why Do We Hide It?

A bit past 6 a.m., I’m brushing my teeth, washing my face, and combing my hair. It’s a lot of time in front of a mirror, and as I look at myself I count the bright red pimples invading my face, neck, and shoulders. And although I’m used to seeing them, it discourages me—definitely not a morning-vitalizer.

I’m not the only one; an estimated 85% of American teenagers experience at least some acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. While acne does affect adults, it’s prevalent among adolescents, scientists explain, primarily due to fluctuating hormone levels and high stress.

It can be damaging to our self-confidence and mental health, especially as high-schoolers surrounded by blemish-free media influences. One study estimated that 51% of Instagram photos are retouched to remove pimples.

There are a variety of ways people react to breakouts. More than a third of the zit-ridden don’t worry about any kind of treatment. This includes people like me who half-heartedly look to lifestyle changes like diet and hygiene, and possibly homemade treatments like coconut oil or honey, but to be honest, it’s not very effective.

However, most people actively seek treatment, especially, it seems, at Orem High. In an anonymous survey, 75% of Orem High students thought that our student body has a higher percentage of Accutane-users than average. Joel Woolley, an OHS senior, admitted that “[teenagers] probably do use stuff less outside of Utah. I feel like a ton of…people that I meet say, ‘yeah, I see a dermatologist and take stuff.’”

Joel started taking Accutane in May, as a preventative measure. “My brother got really nasty acne and I know his [condition] started similar to what mine was currently, so I did not want acne as bad as his eventually [was].”

Any serious kind of treatment involves a sacrifice, and the process of getting Accutane prescribed is often extremely wearisome. Joel thinks “it’s pretty over-regulated,” referring to the monthly blood tests. In addition, he uses lip balm three to four times a day in response to the extremely dry skin that results, and, as a member of the marching band, gets sunburned “stupidly quickly.”

Still, for the majority of students, all pains are worth the reward of a clear face and body. “Not only is [acne], you know, an appearance issue, it’s really kind of annoying and sometimes it’s painful,” says an anonymous OHS junior. “I think anything is worth it to get rid of your pimples.”

In the same survey, over half of respondents said their pimples affect their self-image, and they can see that reflected in the culture. On the other end, there are those who feel that acne is just a natural process that shouldn’t be stigmatized. In the words of Noah Lefgren, an OHS senior, “Frank Sinatra had acne—you can too.”

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Samuel Judd

Samuel Judd enjoys writing, thinking, and listening to all kinds of music. He is passionate about philosophy, history, and international law, and he firmly believes in the Oxford comma. In addition to playing cello and piano, Sam drums in the OHS drumline and is the drum major of the OHS marching band.