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Is acne responsible for social anxiety disorders? The answer to the question seems to be yes. Acne is a common skin condition affecting a large percentage of the population, both adolescent and adult. Acne may be dismissed as a superficial condition, but studies suggest that its repercussion are more that just "skin deep".

The same studies have shown that acne sufferers have even higher levels of anxiety and depression than cancer patients. 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 vicious cycle the worst part is that acne produces stress which can worsen an existing acne problem.

Social Anxiety does not Discriminate by Age

As the media places more emphasis on our looks, any blemish can influence your self-esteem. It is a not true to claim 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 caused by acne, your first step is to seek medical attention for both problems. Acute cases of acne might entail 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.

Wash your face 2 times 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 eliminate any remains of dirt or dead skin and finally, moisturize.

The cleansing routine is quite simple and an added help for those of you suffering from anxiety caused by acne problems.