I’ve battled acne through most of my 20’s. For me, that meant 4 years of insecurity, self-esteem issues, and hopelessness. I cried and canceled plans anytime I experienced a particularly nasty breakout. I constantly compared myself to the Instagram girls with perfect skin and wondered why I didn’t look the same way. Once my face cleared up, I still stressed over my acne returning which then led to even more breakouts. I was caught up in an endless cycle of skin inflammation that I couldn’t break.
However, I know that I’m not the only 20-something who battles acne. So, here are five things I’ve learned about my skin on my journey towards self-acceptance.
1. Your acne isn’t bad or ugly.
I know it’s hard to believe that your acne isn’t unattractive, but it’s true. Your breakout isn’t ugly, but your attitude towards your breakout is. You might not love the acne on your face, but you should love yourself regardless of your skin struggles. If you struggle with self-love, follow some acne-positive Instagram influencers, like @myfacestory and @mypaleskinblog.
2. There’s no such thing as “perfect” skin.
That model whose skin looks like glass simply isn’t showing her real face. Almost every influencer filters their images, so comparing your skin to theirs is unhealthy and entirely unnecessary.
3. No one is judging you skin.
You might not believe me, but if you have acne, going out without makeup is totally acceptable. Nobody but you cares about the spots on your face, and most people won’t even notice them at all. When it comes to showing your face, starting small is better than doing nothing at all. Go to the store without makeup until you forget that you’re not wearing makeup.
4. It’s OK if you feel sad about your acne sometimes.
Feeling sad about your skin after years of self-hatred is perfectly normal. There’s nothing wrong with wanting your skin issues to go away, but you just have to stay strong enough to overcome your sadness. Just remember that acne is temporary. Your skin doesn’t define you unless you let it.
5. Acne is normal.
80% of people experience acne at some point in their lives. Personally, my normal skin is dry with large pores and texture. Sometimes I go weeks without a new breakout but other times my skin doesn’t cooperate. It’s important to realize that your skin is always changing, and it always will. You can’t get upset over every new breakout because changes in your skin texture are normal.
Until I accepted the fact that “perfect” skin doesn’t exist is when I started to truly accept myself. Your worth has nothing to do with the blemishes on your face. So, find the strength to love who you are, no matter what your skin looks like. My journey to skin acceptance hasn’t always been easy, but it has been rewarding, and yours will be too.
Remember that you’re not beautiful despite your acne. You’re beautiful because you’re kind, empowered, smart, and compassionate. So embrace your acne and show yourself some love today and every day because you deserve it.
Featured Photo via Pexels
