Is there a scientific link between acne and depression? Derma weighs

In accordance with National Institute of Mental Health, depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. In 2016 alone, 16.2 million adults in the US experienced at least one major depressive episode. While depression can be caused by a whole list of triggers and factors, there's a new link that most of us probably haven't thought about: acne.

Truth in Science: 2018 study from the British Journal of Dermatology found that men and women with acne have an increased risk of developing depression. Over a 15-year study period that tracked the health of almost two million people in the UK, the likelihood acne patients 18.5 percent had developing depression, and 12 percent of those who didn't. Although the reason for these results is not clear, they show that acne is much more deeper than skin.

Ask the Expert: Can Acne Cause Depression?

To learn more about the potential link between acne and depression, we turned to Dr. Peter Schmid, Plastic Surgeon, SkinCeuticals Representative and Skincare.com Consultant.

The link between our skin and mental health 

Dr. Schmid was not surprised by the results of the study, agreeing that our acne can have a big impact on our mental health, especially during adolescence. “In adolescence, self-esteem is closely linked to appearance before a person has time to realize it,” he says. "This underlying insecurity often carries over into adulthood."

Dr. Schmid also noted that he has seen acne sufferers struggle with a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety. “If a person suffers from frequent mild to moderate to severe breakouts, it can affect how he or she behaves in social situations,” he said. “I have clinically observed that they suffer not only physically but also emotionally and can harbor deep feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, insecurity and more.”

Dr. Schmid's Acne Care Tips 

It's important to make a distinction between accepting your perceived skin "flaws" and caring for it. You can embrace your acne—which means you won't go out of your way to hide it from the public or pretend it's not there—but that doesn't mean you have to neglect proper skincare to prevent acne scarring. .

Acne treatment systems such as La Roche-Posay Effaclar Acne Treatment Systemtake the guesswork out of creating a treatment plan for your blemishes. Dermatologists recommend this trio - Effaclar Medicated Cleansing Gel, Effaclar Brightening Solution and Effaclar Duo - to reduce acne by up to 60% in just 10 days with visible results from day one. We recommend asking questions about your dermis before starting any treatment plan in order to choose the one that is right for you.

Learn about acne

The first step to improving the appearance of your acne? Create your acne formation. "Parents of teenagers and those dealing with adult acne should be aware of the underlying cause of their acne, whether it be hormonal changes, genetic predisposition, lifestyle, habits, and diet," says Dr. Schmid. "Changing your lifestyle and habits can help improve the appearance of your skin and reduce the frequency of breakouts."

Dr. Schmid also recommends teaching proper skin care tactics as early as possible for a healthier complexion. "It's important for parents to instill good skin habits from childhood," he says. “Children and teens who develop the habit of washing their face with a quality product can help prevent some of these unwanted breakouts. In addition, these good habits tend to persist into adulthood and contribute to an overall improvement in the appearance of the skin.”

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