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Fixated on skin problems

NAS69373

Hiya

Anyone out there with teen fixating on skin issues

My 16 year old starts GCSEs in a week and is currently obsessing about his skin

In reality there are no spots- just a couple of marks on his face

His dysmorphia is off the scale. We are currently struggling as to know what to do.

Anyone got any advice? He says he cannot live his life like this anymore. He worries about the water he is drinking, whether he is sweating or not, whether he has accidentally eaten sugar or not and the situation is out of control

We need professional help

Any ideas where to turn?

Yours desperately

Nikki

  • Hi, this is something I completely relate to and was a really bad time for me during my teenage years. I do still suffer from dysmorphia and can’t look at myself too closely and hate photos. Having said this as I found I have always looked after my skin and been quite healthy and it pays off when you get older. Although I don’t necessarily believe people they do say I look very young for a 49yr old. I used to over wash my face up to 20 times a day and was obsessed about if it looked shiny. I go for facial treatments and use a dermaroller every day and also use retinol and moisturiser, it’s called environ. Tell your son from me this will get easier in time I promise and he will look younger for it later in life. I believe a clean diet and lots of water help also. I have just recently realised I’m asd also and suffered with ocd since my dysmorphia kicked in at 14 ish. I do think they go hand in hand together as it is an obsession. Hang in there and honestly the longer you live with it the more you realise it’s just who you are.

    good luck 

  • For the mental health side, a counselor or therapist could be invaluable in navigating these concerns. It's challenging, but with the right support, your teen can find a healthier perspective. Wishing you both strength and solutions.

  • Dear Nikki,

    Thank you for sharing this with our community. While we are waiting for the community to respond, you may consider taking a look at the following pages about dysmorphia,

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-dysmorphia/

    https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd/about-bdd/

    I hope this helps.

    Best regards,

    Eunice Mod