UNDER YOUR SKIN

How to stop tricky skin from impacting your mental health

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Picture this: you're getting ready for a night out, only to spot a cluster of pimples on your chin, naturally sending you into a meltdown as you reach for every cleanser, cream or patch in sight.

This is just the beginning for some, including former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly McKeone, who took to Instagram in March to document the anxiety her 17-year battle with chronic acne causes her. And as Lysn psychologist Nancy Sokarno points out, acne isn't the only skin condition that can trigger anxiety or, in some cases, depression.

"Eczema and rosacea are also particular concerns when it comes to mental health," she says. "Obviously it differs depending on the person or the concern and there are other factors that can come into play, for example, if you're able to conceal the skin condition or not."