Does Makeup Help with Self-esteem When You Have Acne?

A Brazilian study published in Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia in 2015 looked at the psychological impact of acne on 355 high school students. The average age of the students was 16. The researchers found that the dominant psychological issue among the students was fear that acne would never cease. The study authors also found that, according to questionnaire responses, high school students with acne reported a lower quality of life than students without acne.²

A study published in the International Journal of Women's Dermatology in 2018 looked at acne patients between 13 and 19 years of age. The researchers found that more than half of the patients feel embarrassed because of acne, and that females generally feel worse than males. The study also showed that clearing up the acne led to improved self-confidence and decreased social inhibition in most patients.³

The first study, published in the journal Body Image in 2018, looked at whether makeup improves the quality of life of people with various skin disorders, including acne. The study was a systematic review, which means the authors looked at all the research conducted on this topic to date. They concluded that camouflage makeup improves the quality of life of patients with skin disorders. In fact, the authors of the study recommended that doctors encourage patients to use camouflage cosmetics to raise self-confidence.⁴

An earlier study, published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology in 2012, also reviewed research evidence for the emotional benefits of makeup for males and females with skin conditions such as acne. The study authors concluded that using makeup to cover up skin imperfections caused by acne can provide an immediate emotional benefit and improve patients' well-being while acne treatment takes longer to yield results.⁵

Another study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology in 2012 examined the impact of corrective makeup on quality of life in 129 patients with a variety of skin diseases, including acne. Ninety-five percent of the patients were female. A cosmetician instructed the patients on applying corrective makeup. The patients then used makeup for one month and completed questionnaires about their quality of life. After the first use of corrective makeup, 99% of patients reported a noticeable improvement in facial skin, and 88% of patients felt more relaxed in the relationships with other people as a result of applying makeup. The patients stated that the most improved aspects of their lives after corrective makeup use were leisure and daily activities. The authors of the study concluded that corrective makeup significantly improved the patients' quality of life. They wrote, "This result confirms the importance of self-image for these patients, who have feelings of embarrassment and social inhibition and have an interest in using makeup to restore self-esteem."⁶

Another study published in the same journal in 2016 examined the ability of a specific camouflaging cream called Acnacalm^®/Acnapur^® to cover up acne lesions. Twenty females with acne applied the product to the face for 28 days and completed questionnaires about their satisfaction with the product. Eighty percent of the patients reported that the cream improved the appearance of their skin. In addition, over 90% of the patients agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "[The camouflage cream] helps you to be happier."⁷

An older study published in The Journal of Dermatology in 2006 looked at whether makeup could improve acne patients' quality of life without disrupting treatment. The authors recruited 50 female patients with acne. Of these, 25 patients received instructions on using cosmetics, while 25 patients were given no specific instructions from dermatologists. Both groups received conventional acne treatment during the study period of four weeks. The patients also completed questionnaires about their quality of life at the beginning and end of the study. The researchers found that the patients who received instructions on using camouflage makeup experienced a greater improvement in their psychological well-being and quality of life. In addition, makeup use did not interfere with conventional acne treatments: neither group showed a noteworthy difference in improvement of acne. The researchers wrote, "Our data are similar to those obtained from other reports…suggesting that makeup use that is instructed and supervised by cosmeticians or dermatologists favorably affects the [quality of life] of acne patients."⁸

Finally, a study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology in 2020 tested the impact of a corrective cream on the quality of life of patients with various skin conditions. Out of the 1840 participants in the study, 48.9% or almost half suffered from acne. Ninety-five percent of the study participants were women. The participants applied a corrective cream to their skin twice a day for four weeks. The researchers evaluated the participants' emotional well-being and functioning before starting to use the cream and at the end of the four weeks. They concluded that the corrective cream had a satisfying or very satisfying impact on the quality of life of 95.8% of participants with acne. The researchers wrote, "In conclusion, dermatologists should continue encouraging their patients regardless of gender or age...to use corrective cosmetics, thus improving skin appearance, well-being and their [quality of life]."⁹