Acne can have profound social and psychological effects. These are not necessarily related to its clinical severity. Even mild acne can be significantly disabling.
Acne affects adolescents at a time they are developing their personalities.
Severe acne, especially when it affects the face, provokes cruel taunts from other teenagers. Some embarrassed acne patients avoid eye contact, which exacerbates relationship difficulties. Others grow their hair long to cover the face. Girls tend to wear heavy make-up to disguise the pimples, even though they know this sometimes aggravates the condition. Affected individuals frequently avoid socialising and may become withdrawn.