Acne is officially the most common skin disorder in the United States, affecting approximately 50 million Americans.

In 2004 the total direct cost associated with the treatment of acne exceeded $2.2 billion. Ten years later, the numbers are even higher.

So if you yourself are not suffering from skin breakouts, chances are you know someone who is.

What people with healthy skin often don’t understand is that acne is much more than a simple physical imperfection. The pain acne sufferers feel on their skin every time a new pimple comes out is nothing compared to the inner suffering they experience as a result of low self-esteem and self-pity.

It’s no wonder that each year cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies introduce a wide range of new “revolutionary” products—giving hope to millions of people around the world. Only, that initial spark of enthusiasm is usually followed with huge disappointment as there really is no permanent cure for acne.

There is no cream or medication that can miraculously remove acne from your life forever. Simply because the real origin of the problem lies much deeper, where no toner or serum can reach.

The mind-body connection.

There is much talk about the emotional side effects of acne which can leave visible scars not only on the surface of the skin, but on the soul as well.

However, what I have come to realize after my 15-year long struggle with acne, is that our emotions are not a result of acne, but rather a direct cause of skin breakouts. I will never forget the day when, by chance, I discovered an old mind-body dictionary that is based on the premise that each physical disease is linked to a specific negative emotion and thought pattern in our mind.

Once I read and understood that my inability to accept myself as I truly am and my dislike for the way that I looked had been manifesting as painful eruptions on the skin, suddenly it all started to make sense. Those red spots on my skin were there to alert me of the inner suffering I was trying to mask.

This revelation was a starting point for a long journey of self-discovery and ultimately self-acceptance through meditation, affirmations, a lot of reading and studying, reflecting on my past and mirror work. I cannot say that my journey is complete now, I believe it is a never ending process, even though I’ve made huge progress by shifting from a “why me?” mentality to a more proactive and positive approach to living and experiencing life.

As a result, my skin has improved drastically in a relatively short amount of time without the use of any specific treatments or products.

More importantly, my self-esteem has healed too.

What I can say for sure today is that clear thoughts really do create clear skin. The only real cure for acne and similar skin conditions is unlimited self-love and complete self-acceptance. When you make peace with who you really are, without trying to suppress any aspect of your personality, that’s when your skin will finally return to its natural state of well-being.

Because that’s how it was always meant to be. The purer the thoughts, the clearer the skin.

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Editor: Emma Ruffin

Photo: Flickr