The pressures of the idealized beauty standards are everywhere these days, making it difficult to maintain a positive body image when comparison is inevitable. This can especially be the case when living with a visible skin condition that society deems an imperfection. While common conditions may be noticeable, they do not make a person any less beautiful. In fact, they tell a story and should be celebrated.
It can be easy to succumb to the mental health effects that skin conditions may induce, but with a little extra self-love and a positive mindset, you can overcome negative feelings and feel like your most confident self. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you; it only matters what you think of yourself.
Keep reading to learn about tips for keeping a positive body image and not letting your skin condition negatively impact your daily life.
1.Create A Personalized Skincare Routine
Caring for your skin as a form of self-care can do wonders for the negative feelings that living with a skin disease may induce, especially at the early stage of a diagnosis. One thing you can do to help your body image and feel positive about your skin is to create a personalized skincare routine that you enjoy.
Depending on the kind of condition you’re living with, you may have specific symptoms that need extra care. For example, people living with psoriasis may have to change their routine depending on the state of their skin. Psoriasis is a common autoimmune condition defined by periodic inflammation of the nails and skin. During flare-ups, those with it may need to spend some extra time in the sun or tweak their skincare regime to help reduce plaques.
Talk with your doctor to create a specialized skin care routine to help with your body image and ensure that you’re doing all that you can to care for your skin. Making this a time to pamper yourself can truly boost your confidence and make your skin condition normalized in your daily routine.
2. Practice Positive Affirmations in The Morning
It’s easy to focus on alterations we’d like to make to our body when we look in the mirror each morning. However, these alterations are not always possible when living with a visible skin condition such as vitiligo where there is no cure for the white patches of skin that form, and that’s completely normal! While insecurities are common with such a condition, it’s important to remain focused on how beautiful you are inside and out. If you tell yourself every morning how amazing you are, you are more likely to believe it and live every day feeling confident in your unique skin.
If you’re unsure of where to begin, start by practicing positive affirmations for self-love to get into the swing of things. Once you become comfortable, you’ll be able to alter your daily affirmations to better suit your needs and what you want to remind yourself of. Pinterest is a great source to find inspiration for affirmations and gather them all in one central place. Being kind to yourself will help you stay positive about your body and make your confidence soar.
3. Surround Yourself With Positive People
Whether you notice it or not, the people you surround yourself with regularly have a great effect on your overall well-being. It’s important to build a community that lifts you up rather than one that tears you down. Sometimes our closest connections can project their own insecurities onto us and call out our flaws to make themselves feel better. If you’ve ever noticed that the people you frequently spend time with leave you feeling insecure or down on yourself over your skin condition, it’s time to build the positive relationships that you deserve with people who appreciate you and love you.
It can be hard to know when to let go of someone, especially if they are a close family member, but remember these relationships should be adding value to your life. Consider having a candid conversation with someone about how their actions make you feel and if there is no improvement, kindly set boundaries or remove yourself. Being around others who make you feel good both inside and out is who you should spend your time and energy with!
4. Look Beyond The Mirror
There is far more to who you are than what the exterior shows. If you are struggling with maintaining a positive body image due to skin condition insecurities, one of the best tips is to make a list of all the things you love about yourself beyond your physical appearance. This could include how kind and caring you are for others, your ability to remain calm, and how artistic you are.
We all have positive qualities that go well beyond the physical characteristics that make us the unique individuals we are. When you are fulfilled with who you are internally, that will spill over into how you present yourself externally.
Body positivity is a constant thing to always be working on and it’s okay to regress every now and then. The important thing is to stay true to who you are, remember that you are amazing inside and out and that your skin condition does not define you. With the right mindset, you can train your brain to reject negative thoughts and only consume positive energy that boosts your confidence and gives you a healthy body image.
