Product Description

All of us probably remember being told, "Don’t worry, you’ll grow out of it," when we had bouts of acne as teenagers. The truth is, though, that not everybody grows out of acne. In fact, acne can even begin in adulthood and, among women, even after menopause as estrogen levels decline.

In addition to physical symptoms, acne sufferers often present psychological symptoms related to the condition like depression, stress, and low self-esteem. These psychological aspects of acne are often downplayed, and the condition is considered "merely cosmetic" and not a true disease. In the worst cases, acne sufferers have been blamed for their acne much like obese people are blamed for their weight, with the disorder being indicative of a lack of self-control, bad hygiene, or an unhealthy diet. But recent research suggests that diet is not a main cause of acne, and that acne is usually caused by the skin's sebaceous glands being pathologically sensitive to certain hormones. Acne can also be a secondary symptom of certain diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome.

This book offers a detailed discussion of the physical symptoms, causes, and treatments of adult acne. It offers you useful information about the various effective natural and medical treatments, as well as information on dealing with tangential effects like scarring. This book is unique in that it also covers the psychological aspects of acne, asking you to explore your experiences and feelings relating to the disorder. It includes exercises to build self-esteem and social skills and suggestions for relieving stress and anxiety associated with acne.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #604830 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 178 pages

From the Publisher
A dermatologist who is also a psychologist helps adult acne sufferers cope with both the physical and psychological damage caused by this common disorder. This book offers stress-relieving tips, help for building self-esteem, and information about natural and medical treatments for acne.

About the Author
Richard G. Fried, MD, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized clinician, researcher, and teacher. After earning his Ph.D. with honors in clinical psychology, he went on to obtain his MD degree with honors from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center. He is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical psychologist and has written numerous articles on the physical and psychological aspects of acne.

Customer Reviews

This book is good for mild to moderate acne
I have pretty bad acne so using the home remedies and over the counter products listed in this book didn't help much. So, I went to see Dr. Fried himself and I am now using perscription medication. I haven't been on the medication long so I can't tell you if the medications have worked yet, but maybe at a later date I could let you know. The book is helpful to track the reasons why we get acne and what the causes are. And it gives you understanding that you are not the only one. I feel this book is more for people who are not constantly worring about their skin. It is more for "light" acne. If you are depressed about your face then my advice would be to go see the dermatologist and get it over with. I believe that this a great book for understanding your acne but not a good book for curing it.

A must for any ADULT with this problem
I never had acne as a teen.Lucky me,I got it when I was almost thirty!
Desperately I tried everything over the counter.Nothing seemed to help...
Those late night infomercials for Proactiv and Murad only taunted me promising clear perfect skin because they didnt work for me either.

I started feeling like a failure.My face was horrible,and painful,and I didnt leave my house for several months.My relationship suffered with my husband.I cried alot...
Browsing the bookstore one day I found this book.It gave me the courage to stop crying about my acne and do something about it.I finally made an appointment with a dermatologist.
After three months,and three recommended treatments,my face was clear again! I felt like a new woman!
This book is very informative with suggestions varying from natural to medical treatments. He tells you how and why acne is formed,and even the different kinds of acne. (who knew there were KINDS?)

The book is also very helpful as far the emotional,psychological aspect that acne has on people.He makes suggestions to help get you through this and there's a quiz to see how badly you are effected by your acne.Acne is listed as a major reason for depression in this book! So if you have adult acne and are depressed or feel like you aren't taken seriously about it,this is a great place to start.

Any adult with acne should seriously read this book.It may really help you.

Not what I thought it would be
I was looking for some ways to clear up acne, something that I could do without going to a doctor. This book is really more about the emotional impact of acne and how to deal with it. It really doesn't give any new advice about clearing up your skin. I did not find it helpful.