Looking Back: Adults On Their Teen Acne Years

Five adults who suffered acne as teens share the advice that in hindsight, would have been most useful. From not being so judgmental to sticking with dermatologist-prescribed regimens, here’s what they had to say:

Anthony, 31: Stick to the regimen
“I would tell myself to find a routine and stick with it! I was always starting and stopping and not following through. You can use the best skincare for acne, but if you don’t use it consistently, it’s not going to work.”

Amanda, 32: Don’t be so self-conscious
“I got acne around the age of 13, and I’d tell my younger self not to be so self-conscious - at that almost everyone was going through it. I also took some really aggressive approaches, and now I’d find a less invasive skincare routine for acne.”

Christine, 29: Beauty comes with or without scars
“I would tell myself to be patient, that the white head vs. scar battle isn’t one I want to wage, and to think long term about scarring. And I would tell myself to remember, as cliché as it sounds, that I am beautiful just the way I am.”

Laura, 41: It’s not all about you
“I would tell my younger self about the scientific phenomenon known as the ‘spotlight effect.’ It’s a term used by social psychologists to explain our tendency to overestimate how much other people notice about us: our appearance, our behavior, and our social faux pas. We naturally assume people are paying more attention to us than they actually are. When I was a teen, I would stress out thinking my ‘giant’ breakout was all people could see. Looking back, I grossly overestimated the amount of people that even noticed!”

Jonny, 29: Stick with the program
“First, I’d tell myself that you have to give it time. I know it’s tempting to jump from one product to another looking for a quick fix, but sticking with a consistent treatment and acne skincare routine will definitely pay off in the long term. “