Written by: Zobiana Dillsworth
Acne is something many people face, especially in their teenage years. While it is a normal part of life, not everyone sees it that way. In order to find different perspectives on acne, DermaTeens conducted a survey of twenty-six people. While a population of twenty-six is not necessarily representative, it provided some insight into how many teenagers view people with acne. The following data come from twenty-six of the surveyed participants.
The results of our survey show that twenty-three people have experienced acne, with seven of these twenty-three people experiencing in-person remarks regarding their acne. One participant said, “I was considered ugly to my peers because of it.” While not all the talk was in a bullying sense, the acne was still pointed out to those who had it.
Seventeen of the surveyees said they see acne in others on a daily basis. Five surveyees said they see acne in others on a weekly basis, while only one person commented that they only see acne in others once a month. Two of the surveyees were completely unsure.
When it comes to female teens, seventeen people said they had no specific thoughts about those with acne, or they just saw it as normal. One person simply commented that the female they saw was probably struggling with acne in their eyes., and another wondered whether she had a skincare routine.
In male teens with acne, sixteen of the surveyees had no specific thoughts, saw it as normal, or had the same viewpoints for females and males. However, there were more negative responses toward male teens with acne than toward female teens with acne. One surveyee even said their first thought is, “Ew, zit face.” While they do not say it aloud, it is noted as an initial response to seeing a male teen with acne. Another person admitted that they have stronger thoughts toward males with acne those females.
When the surveyees saw female adults with acne, only seven of them had no specific thoughts or saw it as normal. There were four surveyees who felt bad for these adults or were just scared of having the same problem in the future. Three of the surveyed simply found it strange to see an adult with acne because it is usually only portrayed as a teen problem.
In adult males with acne, sixteen of the surveyed responses were the same as those of the female adults with acne. Three of the surveyed simply blamed it on stress. The survey also asked about pregnant females with acne. Five of the surveyed had no specific thoughts while twelve others simply blamed the acne on hormones. Someone commented that she is simply happy to see a pregnant woman; she does not even notice acne in pregnant women. Two of the surveyed said they do not know what they think of pregnant women with acne.
Finally, the survey asked about skincare routines. Six of the surveyed have no type of skincare routine. Five of the surveyed only use face wash, while nine combine face wash with moisturizer/lotion. There was one person who simply focuses on spot treatment. Four of the surveyed had more complex routines with a combination of cleansers, exfoliators, serums, creams, and/or face masks. Two of the survey respondents admitted their skincare routines have been influenced by a celebrity, but no specific figure was named.
The end of the survey allowed for any additional thoughts or comments from the survey. While many people had nothing to add, there were three surveyees who wanted to contribute. One added that their acne stems from ignoring their skincare routine for a few nights in a row. Another admitted they believe people overexaggerate how much of a problem acne is; they do not believe it is essential to clear up. Finally, it was said that most people assume those with acne have bad hygiene and find them unattractive.
Overall, it appears that there is more bias toward males with acne than anyone else. Additionally, it seems that adults with acne are seen as weird because acne is a “teen problem;” the bias against adults occurs no matter the gender.
According to Acne.org, it is much more common for women to have spikes of acne because of their hormone fluctuations. Additionally, over 50% of adult women have occasional acne, which shows how normal it really is. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology conducted its own survey. Their survey consisted of over a thousand participants, all over the age of twenty. The JAAD found that adult women are more likely to experience acne than adult males.
This research highlights biases and areas of improvement in our society regarding beauty, acne, and Western ideals. From this, we hope to have provided some insights into how teens view acne and what needs to change.
For more information about this interesting topic, check out these media:
Image Source: Harvard Health
References:
Collier, Christin N., et al. “The prevalence of acne in adults 20 years and older.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 58, no. 1, 2007, pp. 56-59. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(07)01081-X/fulltext.
Kern, Dan. “Female Acne.” Acne.org, 29 August 2022, https://www.acne.org/women-and-acne.
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