Problems taking care of teen acne are common.  We know that.  Billions of teens all over the world are affected by acne and still others continue to have it into adulthood. 

It is the most commonly treated skin problem, and occurs far more frequently than all other skin disorders combined.  This is the reason there are so many teenage acne products on the market and this is also the reason why we need to pay attention to more than just the skin problem. 

Acne breakouts can have severe impacts on the mind too. Acne dysmorphia is rare but it does occur.  When it does it can have life-threatening impacts. 

It is a form of mental illness that is linked to body dysmorphic disorder.  In dysmorphia a person becomes completely obsessed by a perceived deformity.  In this sense it can be compared to anorexia nervosa. 

Calming teenage acne may not be easy and good mental health is essential to helping you cope. When a person has acne dysmorphia he or she might feel that their skin is deformed or revolting. 

 Often the sufferer does have acne but this might be mild and hardly noticeable.  Nonetheless an individual with acne dysmorphia may feel that their skin is horrible and out of control.  The person will spend a considerable amount of time in front of the mirror, checking for evidence of imperfections.

 The reflection they see is not at all the same as the one that exists in reality, but they will become completely fixated on how “hideous” and “deformed” they are. Because the person is convinced that bad skin and not their mental state is the problem they will usually not seek help from a mental health professional. 

 Instead they will often hurt themselves or take some course of action that is harmful and fails to address the real problem.  They might pick or tear at their skin until it bleeds or try to scrape away the blemishes with a razor.  Acne dysmorphia is a serious illness and should you feel this way you should take steps to get help as soon as possible.  

 If help is not sought acne dysmorphia can take over your life and cause you to stop going out, working, or engaging in pro-active behavior.  You may feel shy but you can start by telling a parent about it.  Visiting a doctor could be the next step.   Make sure you tell him/her about any obsessive thoughts you may be having as well as any compulsive, harmful or repetitive behaviors.    There are effective treatments for acne and these can be explored rather than resorting to harmful behavior and damaging thoughts. 

 You may be depressed or have an anxiety disorder.  Both of these are problems that can be dealt with using medication or a combination of medication and therapy.  Often cognitive-behavioral therapy is helpful. 

 You may be prescribed an anti-depressant medication.  Hypnosis is also helpful in some cases.   If you are a parent of a teen with acne who shows symptoms of acne dysmorphia, please take immediate action. 

With the right help and support this condition can be treated.  The most important thing to realize is that this is a mental health condition and has nothing to do with getting rid of teenage acne. 

The problem is a behavioral and thought-based one and here is where the help needs to be centered.