Besides physical scars, acne can cause emotional trauma as well, said Stuart Kolner, board-certified dermatologist at McFarland Clinic in Ames.

“Individuals vary tremendously in their ability to cope with acne, from totally ignoring it, to being devastated by it,” he said.

Max Guyll, former clinical psychologist at the ISU Student Counseling Center, said some people can be very hard on themselves when coping with acne.

“People can blame themselves for having acne,” he said. “They think the reason they have acne is because of something bad they did, such as eating greasy foods, or not taking care of themselves.”

These thoughts could lead to a “negative downward spiral,” of feeling rejected by others, Guyll said.

“If social and physical discomfort causes them to withdraw, they can stop engaging in pleasurable experiences and begin to feel that they don’t have a good life,” he said.

He said the media adds to emotional damage for some people fighting acne.

“No one on TV has severe acne, and so people with acne feel like they aren’t normal,” he said.

Susan Cross, assistant professor of psychology, said the media is full of misleading images that can damage self-esteem.

“The media present people as flawless,” she said. “No one looks how the media presents them . even Cindy Crawford gets airbrushed every time.”

Guyll said it is important for people to separate themselves from the negative messages of society.

“The trick is to discover your worthiness and value as a person apart from the way society values people,” he said.