The rise of skin anxiety

Hotter weather and social media pressure to have a perfect complexion can make those with a skin condition feel self-conscious

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NHS England reports that half of UK adults experience a skin condition each year, meaning around 35 million are currently affected. And around 27 million (76%) of people with a skin condition say they feel more anxious about it as the weather gets warmer as more of our skin is often on display.

In addition, 77% say that social media beauty trends, such as Korean “glass skin”, increase pressure to achieve a flawless complexion, with millennials reporting the highest levels of insecurity.

Miriam Martinez Callejas, co-founder and superintendent pharmacist at Roseway Labs, believes that social media skin trends can have a damaging effect on mental health. "The impact of social media on its users can be hugely underestimated," she says. "More research is needed into its psychological effects, but our research indicates it is having a notable influence on how people see themselves - especially young women. A quarter of UK adults with a skin condition said they compare themselves to people they see online."