As unrealistic imagery of poreless skin becomes increasingly popular, so does the narrative that having any sort of visible flaw is less than acceptable. It also actively promoted the misconception that having imperfect skin is a sign of bad hygiene and laziness. Acne-positivity is the movement that openly accepts skin imperfections as normal- and nothing to be ashamed of.
Last year I did something brave - I posted a memorable picture of my boyfriend and myself salsa dancing on Instagram. It’s a pretty perfect image except for one tiny thing: my very noticeable acne on my cheeks glaring right back at the camera, front and center, ready for its closeup.
It took me two years and A LOT of bravery (not exaggerating) to share this image. The shame of suffering from skin issues has no doubt affected my self-esteem. From being nicknamed Pizza-face in high school to being asked whether I wash my face enough, my skin has always entered the room before I did. No wonder something as simple as posting a skin positive Instagram picture felt like a defiant act of bravery.
I am definitely not alone in this struggle. Did you know that more than 90% of people are affected by acne at some point in their life? And that’s not even counting other skincare common conditions including rosacea, eczema, vitiligo to name a few. Now, my question is, where are these people?! Where have they all disappeared to?
As unrealistic imagery of airbrushed skin becomes increasingly popular, so does the narrative that having any visible flaw is less than acceptable. It has also actively promoted the misconception that having imperfect skin is a sign of bad hygiene, illness, or laziness. This, I can say from first hand experience, is an emotionally draining experience leaving many of us feeling isolated, bitter, and dangerously desperate for quick fixes.
A new generation of influencers along with high profile celebrities are letting go of the makeup, the filter, and the retouching to publicly expose and embrace their real skin. The skin positivity movement challenges the unattainable skin standards (looking at you “poreless” skin model 😒). How are they doing this you ask? By going barefaced of course! Social media posts like Em Ford’s (My Pale Skin) iconic “You Look Disgusting” video or anything under #freethepimple and #acneisnormal from acne positivity and skin positivity influencers is not only refreshingly raw but also reinforces that we have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about.
What skin positivity is NOT, is what I like to call “pimple worship.” In other words, it is NOT the dismissal of good skin care practices, nor is it a war against makeup. It is also not meant to be a discouragement for anyone trying to improve their skin through safe and sustainable practices. It is rather a battle against the hyper realistic ideals society has decided as “normal”. At the end of the day, you don’t have to love your acne, but it definitely doesn’t define you.
Once you realize your self-worth is not tied to the texture of your skin, it becomes easier to see through the misinformed DIY masks and chemical-heavy creams that do more harm than good. Suddenly, rubbing baking soda onto your face doesn’t seem like the best idea. When you start making decisions out of self-love and not desperation, decisions start to be more intentional. And consequently, more effective.
demarkQ was built on this very principle. Acne is caused by a number of factors including genetics, diet, skin sensitivity, location, pore size, hormones and much much more. Shaming and judging people for having this very common condition, especially during a vulnerable time in their lives, fails to make any sense. There is no “magic pill” to healing your skin no matter how many times your aunt raves about a miracle cure she saw on Facebook.
What does exist, however, are evidence-based solutions. Products and devices made to heal your acne while loving your skin. These products, as effective as they are, will require time and consistency to work properly. During this process, accepting oneself before, during, and after your skin heals is of the utmost importance.
That’s why we work with light therapy. Light therapy has been around for more than 10 years and is non-invasive and highly effective. Various colored lights of different wavelengths stimulate skin cells to produce collagen, calm inflammation, and remove bacteria. demarkQ's LED treatment, particularly uses blue and red LED lights to help treat acne and acne scars.
The blue light is effective in regulating overactive oil glands preventing clogs in pores. Additionally, it is able to deactivate C.acnes bacteria that inflame blocked pores, preventing pustules and nodules from forming. Red light, on the other hand, helps the skin recover during and after an outbreak. Red light stimulates collagen production by supplying the skin cell’s mitochondria with additional energy. This collagen restoration allows the skin to return to its normal texture. Unlike most acne treatments, LED light helps aid the skin’s natural healing processes.
At demarkQ, we ensure our products are both effective and safe to help you achieve the best skin. Without the unrealistic hocus pocus of course.
So, let’s a build a community together and talk about acne. #shinealightonacne!
