Anyone else develop social anxiety because of severe acne?
I had severe acne for years, and it completely destroyed my confidence. My skin has improved a lot now, and while I still have some scars and get the occasional pimple, I look nothing like I did at my worst. The problem is that my mind hasn’t caught up. Every time I go out, I feel like everyone is staring at my skin or judging my appearance. I avoid public places because I get so anxious, and I still see myself as the girl with severe acne. I also grew up pretty sheltered, so I never had much exposure to social situations, which probably made things worse. I feel like I’ve changed on the outside, but inside I still feel like my old self. Has anyone else experienced this? How did you rebuild your self-image and stop feeling like you were still “that person”?
Posted Aug 3, 2026, 1:51 PM UTC