Skin has pores. This is something people try to hide, but skin ultimately has pores. Things like dirt and oil get trapped in these pores. This causes breakouts. We start to breakout when we’re going through puberty. You start to realize that your skin isn’t as soft or clear as it used to be. Many of us go through a time in our lives when our skin starts to change. It’s a common thing that happens because it is part of growing up. Pimples, blackheads and whiteheads are all normal. If all these things are a normal part of life why do some people feel the need to point out other people’s blemishes?
As someone who has very sensitive skin, I break out frequently. The areas of my face that get it the hardest are my chin and the side of my left cheek. I try my best to keep my face clean and oil free, but I still break out easily. When my pimples disappear, it leaves behind dark spots. I’ve struggled with dark spots ever since I was in middle school. Some of my peers would even call me a Dalmatian. One day I taped a little piece of paper to my chin that said “Please don’t look at my chin” because I was embarrassed about my dark spots. People would point them out all the time and it made me very self-conscious. I’d use tinted moisturizers to cover up my dark spots. I tried every dark spot fading cream on the market. Nothing seems to make them go away.
But my dark spots didn’t bother me until people started pointing them out. People in my own family would make me feel bad about my skin. My mother didn’t even want me to go out with her to the grocery store unless I put on foundation to cover up the spots. I’d cake on endless layers of foundation and powder just so it would make my skin look presentable to the public.
One comment in particular made me very angry, especially because it was told to me by someone I care about very deeply. I turned my head and I eyes widened. “What happened to your face? Did you get burned or something?” I immediately tried to hold down the lump forming in my throat. “No, they’re just dark spots from acne that went away,” I replied quietly. I felt so embarrassed and I wanted to cry. The point that I’m making is that you should never point out someone’s blemishes. People are aware of what is on their face; you don’t need to remind that person of what they have. It’s unnecessary, not helpful and actually very rude.
I understand that your intentions may be to help that person, but it is hurtful to some people. It makes the person more self-conscious. Skin naturally changes overtime. No one has perfect baby skin forever. The next time you think about pointing out someone’s flaws, just don’t do it at all.
