Winning the War on Acne

When someone looks into a mirror, what do they see first? Is it the nose, eyes, or lips? No, because all that fades away in the presence of one thing: acne. It could be a single crater in the middle of the forehead or a barrage of bumps on the face, back, and arms. In a society that idolizes a flawless personal appearance, how do you win the "war on acne" when they say that:

1) You have less value when you have it.

2) The scars that follow are something that should be covered.

[Part 1: Redefine It]

There are words in the English language that meant one thing at one time, but the meaning transformed into something new. For example, in the past, when you said the phrase, "Jimmy is sick.", people understood that you meant, "Jimmy is ill". Today, the word "sick" could translate to, "Jimmy is awesome". Same word. Same phrase. Different meaning. A beautiful aspect of mankind is that we can decide to redefine anything. If popular opinion says that something is beautiful, a generation can choose to stand against that idea. Your attractiveness is NOT based on whether or not your skin is without a blemish on it; it is founded in the content of your character. How many people look physically appealing, but they are devoid of the necessary qualities that keep relationships going? Can you say that they have more eternal value than someone else simply because they are temporarily "pretty"? Think of it like this:

There are two people that you are considering marrying. Person 1 is a drop-dead gorgeous, world-renown model. Plot twist: they are also a notorious cheater. They have never been faithful in a relationship before. Person 2 has acne, five followers on Instagram (two of them are their mom and dad), but they are the most diligent individual that you know. Who do you want to marry? The answer that you give reveals whatever it is that you consider being of value. Is it their looks? Or is it something else? Person 1 is the dictionary definition of beauty and status. Nevertheless, Person 2, possesses an unseen quality that is more beneficial to you in the long run than the current, fickle opinion of others.

[Part 2: Battle Scars to be Proud of]

Speaking as a completely objective third party with absolutely no personal interest in the matter, if you are going to overcome the battle against breakouts, embrace your scars. I heard this news story a few years ago. There was a woman who underwent an unimaginably difficult life event that forced her to go under the knife. After the surgery, the doctor told her that she had to use a colostomy bag (it collects waste from the body). She did not live her life feeling ashamed of her body or settle for hiding it. Instead, she embraced her situation and used it to better the lives of others. No one should feel like they have to hide their scars out of fear of judgment from others.

Shannon L. Alder wrote, “Your perspective on life comes from the cage you were held captive in". What cage is controlling your life? Is it a cage grounded in your best friend's beliefs? Is it an ancestral cage (based on generations of opinions from your family)? If your worth is under question due to something as minor as the presence of zits (or the scars that they leave behind) on your skin, then you do not have to hold that idea captive; you can allow a new one to define you.