Adolescence is a stage, in which each youngster tries to establish his identity and thus makes a great step towards independence. Being independent helps a young person develop a positive and stable self-esteem. The influences of family, peers and media play an important role in reaching independence and becoming a self-confident adolescent.
My diploma thesis is a study of how acne vulgaris impacts the self-esteem of teenage girls. It is based on scientific writings and researches (Afshari, Payami in Peyman Nia, 2017; Dalgard, Gieler, Holm, Bjertness in Hauser, 2008; Ritvo, Del Rosso, Stillman in La Riche, 2011; Tasoula idr., 2012),, empirical data, as well as my personal experience. I tried to find out how acne vulgaris impacts the lives of teenage girls and how they face and solve the emotional pain caused by their pimpled skin. Moreover, I wondered whether they received any kind of help and professional support while struggling with acne vulgaris. The empirical data gathered in my diploma thesis is based on the records from four teenage girls' diaries, and the interview zoom calls I had with six young females. I found out that teenage girls see their skin as oily, pimpled, with visible redness and scars. They find it irritable, complex and demanding and therefore experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, embarrassment and disappointment. These feelings lead to different types of stress, the most common being the feeling of discomfort and fear that their skin might get even worse.
Teenage girls see their families, peers and cosmeticians as their main supporters, but they are not satisfied with medical support. I have come to a conclusion that media has the biggest impact on teenage girls and contributes to their low physical, social and global self-esteem.
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