Dermatologist uploads Instagram photo of her adult acne to break stigmas

Cystic acne can appear during any stage of life

Unlike braces, acne can plague you beyond your teenage years - and one dermatologist has taken to Instagram to show acne does not discriminate by age.

Proving that even dermatologists, who have a wealth of acne treatment options at their fingertips, can suffer from adult acne, dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto uploaded a selfie this week that shows her makeup-free, and breaking out.

In an effort to fight the stigmas surrounding adult acne and to reassure adults who may also suffer from adult cystic acne, Dr Mahto uploaded her picture to bring awareness to the fact that no matter how many facials, diets, or skincare options you try, adult acne is a battle that often can’t be won.

In her post, Dr Mahto says the “hardest thing about having adult cystic acne has been coming to terms with the realisation that I am never going to be ‘cured’ but the best I can ever hope for is ‘control’ of my skin.”

She also states, “Psychologically accepting that I am never going to ‘grow out of it’ has been a battle through most of my 20s and 30s. Now, closer to 40, I am learning to accept that my skin will be up and down,” but understands that when it is down, she must take the proper steps to reduce the risk of scarring.

According to her post, the dermatologist “has suffered with spots since 1992 and still continues to do so in 2017.”

She then explains that although most people assume dermatologists have perfect skin, that could not be further from the truth.

She said, “Sometimes it isn’t down to what we are eating or sleepless nights or heavy makeup or anything else we are doing wrong. It is just the luck of the DNA draw in terms of our unique combinations of hormones and genetics.”

However, she does reassure those suffering from acne: “If you are suffering with your skin there are always solutions. They do not come with the guarantee that after a round of treatment your acne will not return, but there is always something that can be done and no one needs to suffer or just put up with it.”

Cystic acne is the most serious type of acne and can develop at any age. Because of the severity of the acne, health professionals suggest seeking medical help from a dermatologist, as there are numerous methods for treating cystic acne.

While Dr Mahto is adamant that seeking help from a professional dermatologist is your best course of action for dealing with cystic acne, she also wants people suffering from adult acne to know that “acceptance that it may always come and go is probably the most important part of the psychological battle.”