Dealing With Acne In Your Twenties
The pressure to have skincare sussed and braving a bare face day …
“I’ve had acne on and off since I was 16. It seemed to be easier to deal with as a teen as everyone was in the same spotty boat, but as the people around me stopped bulk buying Clearasil, it felt like I was dealing with adult acne alone.
It can be hard to understand why you’re still getting spots while going through your ‘adult’ life milestones; graduation, first day of your dream job, moving into your first home. You always picture yourself as an adult fresh faced and ready to tackle anything life throws at you, but adult acne can really stop you in your tracks.
“I felt as though I should have had this sussed by now; I should have nailed the perfect skincare routine, the right amount of water to drink or the perfect sleeping pattern, but that’s not the way acne works.”
If you’ve never experienced acne, you won’t know how much it can really hold you back. From cancelling plans with friends as you can’t bear them seeing you make-up-free, or avoiding eye contact because you’re too insecure about the situation happening on your face; acne can really take a toll on your self-confidence.
I have always been embarrassed to share pictures of my bare face for the fear of being judged. I felt as though I should have had this sussed by now; I should have nailed the perfect skincare routine, the right amount of water to drink or the perfect sleeping pattern, but that’s not the way acne works.
No matter how well you look after your face, as someone with temperamental skin, there’s always going to be something internal that can trigger a breakout. Anything from stress, hormone imbalances or changes in your diet can have an impact on your skin; making the anxieties of the uncertain time we’re now living in the perfect environment for acne to thrive.
If you’re dealing with problem skin at the moment, a time when we’re spending longer at home and want to embrace those no-make-up days, it’s important to know that you’re not dealing with this alone. Following the hashtag #SkinPositivity is a great first step in learning how to accept your skin. Seeing others baring their make-up-free faces and being proud of the skin they’re in can work wonders on your own self-confidence.
Inspirational individuals such as Katie Snooks, Em Ford and Abbie Bull have all helped me to come to terms with my skin, showing me that having acne isn’t something to be embarrassed about. Whether it was following Katie’s Roaccutane journey on YouTube, discovering Em’s viral video ‘You Look Disgusting’ or scrolling through Abbie’s candid Instagram account; the community of people that I had built into my social media feeds really helped me change the way I viewed myself.
So, if you’re reading this and struggling with your skin, just know that things will get better. Until then, be proud of the skin that you’re in. Curate your social media feeds with positivity and give a platform to people, brands and things that make you happy. The Insecure Girls Club Instagram is a great place to start!
And finally, don’t let acne stop you living your life!”
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If you want to read more from Ella you can find her on Instagram at @ellalwells, @littlethoughtspot or on her website www.littlethoughtspot.co.uk.