Acne Healing: The Problem With Influencer Marketing
Hey, besties - if your acne healing journey’s been hard, I feel for you! I suffered with acne for years (and it took me just as long to figure out how to deal with it) and while it's one of the main reasons I have such a passion for the industry, influencer marketing really had a way of making me feel like garbage…
First, let’s talk about the stages of acne
| Acne Severity | Symptoms | Expectations |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 - Mild | Mild acne usually consists of a small concentration of pimples and/or blackheads on the skin. It isn’t usually inflamed and doesn’t occur on a consistent basis. | You should start seeing changes within 6 weeks |
| Grade 2 - Moderate | Moderate acne consists of blackheads, pustules, papules and pimples on the skin. It can happen more consistently and there may be some redness and/or inflammation around the affected areas. | You should start seeing changes within 8 weeks |
| Grade 3 - Severe | Severe acne is inflamed and the skin looks red, irritated and cysts, papules, and nodules may also be present. | You should start seeing changes within 12 weeks. |
| Grade 4 - Cystic | Cystic acne becomes extremely painful and there will be numerous pustules, cysts, papules and nodules in the affected area or on various parts of the body. | Medical intervention is required so your doctor should be able to give you more information on what to expect. |
With that, can we see why influencer marketing like this can be harmful?
If her acne was on the milder side of the spectrum, sure it could be healed within 30 days - but we’re looking at a more severe case and we understand that healing a severe case of acne takes time. This kind of marketing creates unrealistic expectations about what acne healing looks like and relies on your insecurities to sell you product - don’t buy into it, and most importantly don’t beat yourself up if your journey’s taking longer than someone else’s.
The only 5 things you need to worry about
Be realistic about what healing is going to look like for you
Stay consistent when it comes to your treatment plan
Revisit your treatment plan every 4-6 weeks (are you seeing changes - even if they’re marginal?)
Don’t buy into predatory marketing that relies on your insecurities
Don’t beat yourself up if it’s taking longer than you thought
The Takeaway
Acne healing takes time and even with an amazing treatment plan (see picture) more moderate acne can still take months to resolve
If you’re not already using a vitamin A, my last blog post explains why retinaldehyde is key for maintaining clear, healthy skin
Working with your esthetician or doctor to figure out a treatment plan can help take the guesswork out of treatment and boost your overall results
Ok, besties - that’s all I’ve got for this week! Check back in two weeks for a new post and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for sneak peeks on what’s new and happening!
