Zits. The very word conjures up painful images of adolescence. Unfortunately, though, acne can persist into adulthood -- and pose a lasting and serious concern.
According to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, acne and depression often go hand-in-hand. Psychiatrist Madhulika A. Gupta, Ph.D., a professor at The University of Western Ontario in London, tested patients suffering from acne, hair loss, eczema or psoriasis for depression. He found the highest levels of depression in those with severe psoriasis, but patients with mild to moderate acne had the second highest levels -- and both were in range of clinical depression.
"Even mild acne can be very distressing because it's occurring when body image becomes very important," Gupta explains. He believes that acne worsens as depression does, and "while a clinically depressed state may predispose a person to develop acne, having acne alone contributes to depression." Gupta also warns parents to be aware of the possible psychological effects of their child's acne, as it develops at a stage where the incidence of depression is already high. The good news: Acne-related depression improves as acne treatment progresses.
