Conditions that affect our physical health can have an impact on our mental wellbeing. One of the ways in which acne can have an impact on our mental wellbeing is to make us feel like we have to pick or squeeze out our acne lesions, which are also called spots.
Someone who is affected by acne excoriée will feel a want to forcibly remove their acne lesions, or spots, from their skin. This want can often seem uncontrollable and a person who is affected can feel compelled to pick at an acne lesion or to scratch it out. It is not uncommon for people with acne excoriée to pick out every acne lesion on their body.
After the acne lesions have been removed the skin tends to be left sore and scabbed with open wounds, which may then turn into acne scarring.
In addition to feeling a compulsive desire to pick or scratch at acne lesions, people affected by acne excoriée may have negative thoughts or feelings about their acne. They may also find themselves feeling anxious or depressed, both in relation to their acne and more generally.
It is important to remember that treatment options are readily available for those of us who are affected by acne excoriée. If you would like to find out more about these treatment options then visiting your GP is a good place to start. Your doctor will be able to talk with you about how you are feeling and help you arrange a treatment plan, which may include some other healthcare professionals who are well trained in treating acne excoriée, such as a dermatologist or a psychiatrist.
Self-help resources are a useful tool that can help us to feel better about ourselves and our skin conditions. Visit our sister site Skin Support for more information on self-help.
If you feel like you need to talk to someone straight away about how you are feeling then you might like to get in contact with Mind, Samaritans or Changing Faces, who may be able to help.