Some days when I walk through the hallways on my way to English Lit, or Calculus, I tend to pay more attention to the people I pass. I notice that more than half of the people I walk by have unblemished skin. No visible pores, or acne scars. Once I get into class I head straight for the restroom and take a long look at my face. Three pimples on my left cheek, and a cluster of scarring on the other. I sigh, and I return to my desk with the desire to cover my face for the rest of the day.
Acne is something that almost every teen will experience. Unfortunately, some of us aren’t as lucky as others when it comes to this issue. My older brothers had about two major pimples when they were in high school, and my closest friend never has any blemishes. I, on the other hand, wake up daily with a new pimple waiting to greet me when I look in the mirror.
I constantly tell myself that the marks on my face do not define me. Having acne does not make me unattractive or unworthy in society. Sometimes it works, the other times I tend to let myself wallow in self-pity. A lot of us need to know that acne is normal. Yes, it is incredibly frustrating and lowers your self-esteem, but it will not be permanent. As teenagers and young adults, we want to be accepted. We want to feel pretty and smart. Know that you are not alone. When you really look around you realize that not everyone is paying attention to your face. You are your biggest critic and your own worst enemy.
I’ve written a few blogs, but this one has been the hardest for me to gather my thoughts into cohesive sentences that aren’t just complaints about myself. What has really helped me learn to accept my acne and scarring is going makeup free. This is hard for so many girls, but for me, I wore makeup to hide what I thought wasn’t beautiful. Only seeing my bare skin for 3 hours out of the day only made me more uncomfortable and unaccustomed to my skin. Not wearing makeup has helped me in so many ways. I’m more attentive to my skin and its needs, my acne has improved, and most importantly I have become more comfortable with the way it looks.
That solution may not be an option for many girls and that is completely understandable. If you need to find a solution to your acne, I suggest seeking help from a dermatologist. They know how to combat your skin and will help get to the root of what is wrong with your skin. At the end of the day, know that you are just as pretty whether you have scarring, acne, or a clear face.