Is acne responsible for social anxiety disorders? The answer appears to be yes. Acne is a common skin condition affecting a large percentage of the population, both adolescent and adult. Acne is usually shrugged off as a superficial problem related with young people; however, studies show that it can create problems that are more that just "skin deep".

It seems that acne patients tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression than even cancer patients do. Studies have found that acne can have an important effect on self-image and self-esteem, which can lead to the inhibition of social interactions. Like a no-win situation the worst part is that acne causes stress which can worsen an existing acne problem.

Social Anxiety does not Discriminate by Age

As the media puts more emphasis on our looks, any imperfection can produce an impact on your self-esteem. It is a untrue to state that only teenagers suffer from anxiety disorders when it comes to acne problems. If the anxiety produced by acne is not treated while the patient is young, it will affect them throughout your life.

Severe acne problems and the resulting scars can eventually cause an impact on the patient's daily life and lead to such problems as social withdrawal, social phobia and anxiety disorder.

Social phobia causes overwhelming fear that others are looking at you and judging you. Social phobia produces embarrassment about your appearance and makes social events stressful. This eventually takes a toll not only on your psychological health, but also on your physical health.

Anxiety disorders are the result of severe stress brought upon by severe acne. As with social phobia, anxiety disorders have many of the same symptoms. The important factor to remember is that both problems are treatable, and if not treated, they can lead to poor performance in school and poor social skills.

Dealing with Acne Problems

If you are suffering from anxiety brought on by acne, your first step is to seek medical attention for both issues. Severe cases of acne might necessitate special treatments for acne problems. Mild cases can be treated with over the counter medication. Your skin care routine should taken very seriously in both cases.

Cleanse your face twice a day with a cleanser designed for your type of skin. Exfoliate at least once a week if you are a teenager and more frequently as you age. Use a toner without alcohol to get rid of any remains of dirt or dead skin and finally, moisturize.

By following a simple cleansing routine, you can help alleviate the social anxiety that can accompany acne problems.