The answer is definitely yes. Acne is a common skin disorder affecting a large percentage of the population, both adolescent and adult. This disorder is often disregarded as a superficial problem associated with growing up; however studies have shown that it is much more than a treatable skin condition.

Studies have revealed that acne patients suffer from higher levels anxiety than cancer patients. Acne in any form has psychological effects because it affects our self image and, consequently, our self esteem. If the levels of anxiety are important enough, acne patients can show signs of social withdrawal.

Social Anxiety due to Acne Affects Teenagers and Adults

The media is constantly placing more and more emphasis on perfection. Young people are more susceptible to these messages, but if their insecurities are not addressed, they will carry their baggage into adulthood. This means that not only are adolescents prone to anxiety and stress due to acne, but so are adults.

Scars resulting from severe acne problems can lead to such problems as anxiety disorder and social phobia.

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.

Treating with Acne Problems

Look for medical attention if you experience social withdrawal or social anxiety. It is also a good idea to seek not only therapy for the anxiety, but also to seek help for your acne.

The treatments for acne problems vary in relation to the seriousness of the acne problem. More severe cases of acne may need strong products, while mild acne may just require common cleansers. Regardless of which case you have, you should always maintain a regular skin care routine to keep your skin healthy and clean.

The best way to do this is to:

*Cleanse your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser.

*Exfoliate at least once a week if you are a teenager and more frequently as you age

*Use a toner to remove any remains of dead skin, oil or dirt

*Moisturize your skin

This simple routine have be of great help for any one suffering from anxiety disorders due to acne problems.