What About Men With Acne?

What About Men With Acne?
By Mari Bozozo

 As a woman, I know all too well that the lot of us are subjected to acne for a plethora of reasons,
with hormonal imbalances heading at the top of the list. This would not only explain our cyclical
skin eruptions but why we appear to be the sex that appears to struggle with it at a higher rate,
thus making us far more vocal about this issue.
But what about men with acne? While I believe that they are just as susceptible to it as women,
it appears that they adopt a stance of silence and inaction toward it. Thus, resulting in more
challenges dealing with it. Certainly, I am not undermining a woman’s insufferable experiences
with acne. If that were the case, I’d be undermining my very own. However, if I’m to do a
“comparative analysis” in regards to which sex is at a more disadvantage in having acne, I’d be
compelled to admit that it very well may be men. Ponder over this for a moment: As women,
what is the #1 go-to weapon in our arsenal to either conceal or manage the appearance of our
troubled skin? Makeup, of course! We have everything from liquids to creams to powders at our
disposal. Some makeup is even marketed with acneic skin in mind, to boot. Even if our acne is
still visible, at the very least, makeup helps to minimize the harshness of its appearance. Which
makes it possible for us to feel like we are able to blend in with the rest of civilization. Factor in
eyeliner, eyeshadow, perfectly arched brows, blush, and lipstick, and you now have a palette of
varying hues to detract from acne’s otherwise unsightly appearance. It’s no contest- women
have the upper hand in this regard. Unfortunately, for the average man, he does not, as makeup
is not just a conventional option for him. This means that he has to bravely, but with a much
higher degree of vulnerability, bare his flaws. Nothing can shield him from the unrelenting eyes
of the world. The weight of this burden, I imagine, is insurmountable. What does this truly do to
a man’s confidence and self-esteem?
Having a brother who was stricken with severe acne from adolescence through young
adulthood gave me a front-row seat in witnessing how destructive it could get. If my memory
serves me correctly, the breakouts started while he was still in junior high school. As the years
rolled on, the acne became more and more progressive. What seemingly appeared to the
typical pubescent changes taking place morphed into something far more disturbing. Over the
counter, topical medicines and multiple trips to the dermatologist proved to be of no avail. Before
our eyes, my brother began shutting down and literally became a recluse. Once the object of
every teen-aged girl’s affections, he dropped out of high school because he perceived his looks
to have faded. In his mind, he couldn’t risk being the target of disappointment, ridicule, and
embarrassment by his peers. I recall the time when my entire family went in search of my
brother during one of his lowest points. We thought that he’d run away. After exhausting every
possibility to locate him, I was the one who’d found him underneath his bed, in a half comatose
state with a mouthful of dissolving baby aspirin. It appeared that my brother was trying to kill
himself! After a prompt visit to the ER, he thankfully made a full recovery. While we were
relieved to know that he was out of harm’s way physically, we knew that emotionally and
mentally, he had a long, winding road ahead. My parents placed him in psychotherapy shortly
thereafter. While psychotherapy assisted him in not making any more desperate attempts on his
life, the scars left on his face and in his mind prevailed.
Sometime later, my family located from one residence to another in town. The most vivid image
from that time for me was seeing my brother leaving our old home in transit to our new one with
a brown paper bag over his head, as he was in crippling fear that someone would see his
disfigurement. In addition, somehow or other, he’d gotten a rumor mill churning in having many
people believe that he was deceased. Anyone getting a glimpse of him at this moment would
have unmasked his truth, in more ways than one.
Thankfully, as the years grew on, my brother’s acne lessened and virtually became nonexistent.
He eventually learned that his diet, along with the acne gene that he’d inherited from our mother
was the root causes. A change in his eating habits and an increase in his water intake helped
him tremendously. However, the choices that he’d made in the face of his ongoing struggle with
acne cost him far more than his appearance, I’m afraid. Dropping out of high school and
becoming a recluse created unstable and very limited employment for him. Eventually forming
associations with unsavory people did him no favors and wreaked even more havoc. Sadly, his
life never fully recuperated from it all. To think- all because my brother had acne!
I know that this is an exceptional example of how acne can impact a man’s life. Nevertheless,
this just goes to show that acne does, in fact, affect men just as much as it does women. In
varying ways, sure, but it leaves an indelible imprint on all of our lives just the same.
Compared to men, women seem to be a tad more educated about skincare, in general. The
majority of us know that getting facials regularly, taking the necessary supplements, eating
sensibly, drinking plenty of water, and exercise are proven effective ways to get acne under
control. My message to all of my male readers is that you don’t have to infinitely suffer from
acne in vain. The resources that are available to you are plentiful, with estheticians,
dermatologists, and/or nutritionists being of extraordinary value. They will without a doubt point
you in the right direction. Whether you choose to start by using a professional, or researching to
find your own regime, the important thing is to start. And now. Whether you’re a man or woman,
it is my heartfelt belief that we all deserve to strive to look and feel our very best, aesthetically
and beyond.
All the very Best to you in your quest to having Happier & Healthier skin!
Mari
Los Angeles, USA 13101 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA

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