BACNE
The Enemy No One Talks About
By: Sophia Surrett
That’s right, you read bacne- back acne. If you have been through your teenage years all the way up to early adulthood, you know what acne is. When most people think of acne, they think of it on your face, the most common area to have acne. Little do most people know, or care to acknowledge, is that a lot of people have those annoying bumps on their back along with other areas such as arms, chest, or even legs.
With this common skin condition, confidence and self-esteem can decrease as more and more little “mountains” pop up. But no need to fear, a support system is here! Acne is real, acne is natural and acne is relatable. Influencers, such as Emma Chamberlain, and models, such as Kendall Jenner, suffer from bacne and do not hide behind the enemy of clear skin. I’m not saying go tweet or post about your acne, but don’t feel like you have to change your outfit or wear makeup because your pimples show. I, too, know bacne and I have fallen victim to its crushing weight on my self-esteem. I was always changing what I thought to be a confidence-boosting outfit turned into an “I’ll never be able to wear this” outfit.
No matter what your acne looks like (cystic, on your chest, thighs, blackheads, or any type that hinders your confidence), go to a mirror and look at yourself and say, “ I am beautiful, I am worthy, I can show my skin, I am a woman, I am allowed to be confident in my own skin.” Try to not let acne define what you can or can’t wear, how much makeup you put on if you put on any. Just go outside the way you want to.
Also, try taking a step away from makeup all the time. You don’t have to remove it completely, but try to avoid layering a bunch of product on your skin. Let your pores breathe. Using the right cosmetic products for your skin can help limit your breakouts. Let makeup be an enhancer of your beauty, not your main source of confidence.
People may talk, but most likely, they have experienced some type of acne or know someone who has.
More than 85% of teenagers have acne, so you are NOT alone. I am not trying to put a cap on what you’re going through as a victim of acne, but I am trying to let you know that other people are walking on the same journey. You don’t have to suffer from acne any more. Stepping out from behind the curtain of acne will help reduce stress and anxiety levels, which in turn will help lower breakouts. A study performed in Saudi Arabia among female medical students showed stress and acne are strongly, positively correlated. Therefore, take a deep breath and don’t worry about what other people will think or say. Just be you, that’s all they can really ask.
