Does your acne make you sad?

Sometimes (usually during adolescence) the hair, sebaceous gland, and keratinocytes (tiny skin cells) inside the follicle can interact to produce too much “oil.” This plugs the pores, preventing the sebum from reaching the surface of the skin. As a result, bacteria (Propionibacterium) acnes that live on the skin surface grow into the follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation.* The inflammation causes outbreaks of unsightly lesions (pimples, zits) on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders.
Acne is usually not a serious health threat; but it can cause significant emotional distress. And severe acne can lead to permanent scarring.
Acne is the most common of all skin disorders – causing frustration and trauma for millions of adolescents and adults. “There is no single disease which causes more psychic trauma, more maladjustment between parents and children, more general insecurity and feelings of inferiority and greater sums of psychic suffering than does acne vulgaris.” (Sulzberger & Zaldems,1948)