{"id":7872,"date":"2023-10-03T16:10:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:10:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7872"},"modified":"2023-10-03T16:10:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:10:44","slug":"skin-focused-body-dysmorphic-disorder-is-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=7872","title":{"rendered":"Skin-Focused Body Dysmorphic Disorder Is On the Rise |"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"post-share hidden md:flex justify-center relative bg-transparent text-justify bottom-0 md:bottom-auto left-[20px] right-0 md:right-auto z-10\" data-module-init=\"post-share\">\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbody-dysmorphic-disorder-skin%2F\" data-vars-event=\"Facebook\" data-vars-info=\"\/body-dysmorphic-disorder-skin\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-facebook\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on facebook<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=Skin%20Dysmorphia%20Is%20a%20Very%20Real%20Mental%20Health%20Concern%20via%20%40iamwellandgood&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbody-dysmorphic-disorder-skin%2F\" data-vars-event=\"Twitter\" data-vars-info=\"\/body-dysmorphic-disorder-skin\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-twitter\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on twitter<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/link\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbody-dysmorphic-disorder-skin%2F&amp;description=Skin%20Dysmorphia%20Is%20a%20Very%20Real%20Mental%20Health%20Concern&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F09%2FWG_MindsIssue_Editorial_SkinDysmorphia_Inset-533x400.jpg\" data-vars-event=\"Pinterest\" data-vars-info=\"\/body-dysmorphic-disorder-skin\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-pinterest-p\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on pinterest<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n      <a class=\"post-share__button inline-block mx-[4px] py-[11px] text-center text-gray no-underline leading-4 border-0\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Skin%20Dysmorphia%20Is%20a%20Very%20Real%20Mental%20Health%20Concern&amp;body=And%20thanks%20to%20rising%20rates%20of%20stress%20and%20social%20media%20use%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20on%20the%20rise.%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbody-dysmorphic-disorder-skin%2F\" data-vars-event=\"Email\" data-vars-info=\"\/body-dysmorphic-disorder-skin\/\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-sm sm:text-base icon-paper-plane\"\/><br \/>\n      <spann class=\"visually-hidden\">Share on email<\/spann><br \/>\n    <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/aside>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> As an 11-year-old sixth-grader in the early aughts, Danielle Kent, now a publicist based in Los Angeles, began fixating on her skin. She would carry a makeup bag with her at all times to \u201cfix\u201d her perceived flaws at any given moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cI would be doing touch-ups during class or running to the bathroom between periods to make sure I looked okay,\u201d she says. \u201cI thought that if I wasn&#8217;t checking in and seeing what I looked like between these class periods, then somehow my face would completely distort and look different from how I wanted it to look.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> As she got older, she began waking up at 6 a.m. so she could spend hours getting ready for school. Still, she\u2019d dip into the bathroom several times a day to make sure she continued to look okay\u2014and she took care to hide this habit from her peers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cI didn&#8217;t feel comfortable talking to other people about what I was going through because when you&#8217;re constantly looking at yourself, people perceive that as vanity,\u201d she says. \u201cPeople would think I was looking in the mirror all day because I thought I was hot s**t, but in reality, I was just checking to make sure I didn\u2019t look different [than I had before].\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> But Kent wasn\u2019t being vain or self-conscious\u2014she was dealing with skin dysmorphia. And now, with the modern omnipresence of social media apps and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/body-image-issues-during-quarantine\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/body-image-issues-during-quarantine\/\">recent proliferation of video conferencing<\/a>, experts believe the condition has become even more prevalent. London-based psychodermatologist\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thepsychodermatologist.com\/dr-alia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/thepsychodermatologist.com\/dr-alia\/\">Alia Ahmed, MD<\/a>, says, \u201cI am absolutely seeing a rise in cases.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-thin mt-[30px] mb-[40px]\">\n<div class=\"acf-video text-left relative\">\n<figure class=\"w-full h-full m-0\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative !h-full\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.551326412918%;\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AutismArticle_InsetsInset2_867x577_true_75.webp 867w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AutismArticle_InsetsInset2_1040x692_true_75.webp 1040w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AutismArticle_InsetsInset2_867x577_true_75.webp 867w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AutismArticle_InsetsInset2_1040x692_true_75.webp 1040w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AutismArticle_InsetsInset2_867x577_true_75.webp 867w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/AutismArticle_InsetsInset2_1040x692_true_75.webp 1040w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 867px,  (max-width:768px) 867px,  867px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy !absolute\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div><figcaption class=\"text-gray-light text-[13px] leading-[20px] text-center\"> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h2 block-thin\" style=\"\"> What is skin dysmorphia?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> First and foremost, it\u2019s important to understand that \u201cskin dysmorphia\u201d is a colloquial term, not a clinical diagnosis; the psychiatric term for it is\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK555901\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK555901\/\">body dysmorphic disorder<\/a>\u00a0(BDD).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cBDD happens when there is a preoccupation with one or more perceived flaws in physical appearance that are not observed by others or are perceived as very slight by others,\u201d says dermatologist and psychiatrist\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mind-skin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mind-skin.com\/\">Ladan Mostaghimi, MD<\/a>, director of the Wisconsin Psychocutaneous Clinic. She adds that this preoccupation is most frequently directed toward the skin, hair, and nose, but can also focus on muscles or other areas of the body. BDD involves compulsively obsessing over a perceived flaw, which is either nonexistent or slight in reality, leading to a notable decline in quality of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> According to psychiatrist and BDD expert\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/weillcornell.org\/katharine-phillips-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/weillcornell.org\/katharine-phillips-md\">Katharine Phillips, MD<\/a>, BDD affects between\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/9888-body-dysmorphic-disorder#:~:text=How%20common%20is%20body%20dysmorphic,%25%20and%202.9%25%20of%20people.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/9888-body-dysmorphic-disorder#:~:text=How%20common%20is%20body%20dysmorphic,%25%20and%202.9%25%20of%20people.\">2 to 3 percent of the population<\/a>\u00a0(though it is likely underreported)\u2014and the majority (<a href=\"https:\/\/bdd.iocdf.org\/about-bdd\/who-gets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/bdd.iocdf.org\/about-bdd\/who-gets\/\">around 60 percent<\/a>) of those impacted identify as women. While BDD can present at any age, Dr. Phillips says that the average age of onset is around 16 or 17.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"premium-article-quote block-thin flex flex-col relative justify-center text-center mt-[37px] mb-[30px]\" data-type=\"acf\/premium-article-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-wg-quote block-thin flex flex-col\">\n<p class=\"quote-quote text-quote\">&#8220;The best studies of the clinical features of body dysmorphic disorder show that 73 percent of people with body dysmorphic disorder have skin concerns.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"quote-credit block font-serif text-[19px] italic opacity-60\">Katharine Phillips, MD<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> According to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/bjd.21021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/bjd.21021\">2022 study published<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<em>British Journal of Dermatology<\/em>, symptoms of BDD were five times more prevalent in patients with dermatological conditions. \u201cThus far, the best studies of the clinical features of body dysmorphic disorder show that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3181960\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3181960\/\">73 percent of people with body dysmorphic disorder have skin concerns<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Phillips says, hypothesizing this may underpin the popularization of the term skin dysmorphia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Dr. Phillips\u2019 book,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com.mx\/Broken-Mirror-Understanding-Treating-Dysmorphic\/dp\/0195167198\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com.mx\/Broken-Mirror-Understanding-Treating-Dysmorphic\/dp\/0195167198\"><em>The Broken Mirror: Understanding and Treating Body Dysmorphic Disorder<\/em><\/a>, includes research concluding people with skin-centric BDD often obsess over perceived acne and scarring and other types of marks on their face, and also the color of their skin (for example, thinking it\u2019s too red or too white). \u201cBut virtually any aspect of the skin can be disliked\u2014facial pores that are considered unusually large, veins, capillaries, wrinkles, sagging, shriveling, and stretch marks,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> While Dr. Phillips says there is no singular cause of BDD, there may be a significant genetic component. In other words, like many other mental health conditions, risk for the disorder\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4237698\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4237698\/\">is inherited<\/a>. Environmental factors may also contribute to the development of BDD, but she says identifying those factors and knowing their extent requires additional scientific research. \u201cIt may be things like being teased about your appearance, it may be childhood abuse, it may be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/old-aged-filter-tiktok\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/old-aged-filter-tiktok\/\">certain forms of social media<\/a>\u2014but it\u2019s very hard to study,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h2 block-thin\" style=\"\"> How BDD differs from other body-image concerns<\/h2>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> It\u2019s important to distinguish between BDD (skin-focused body dysmorphic disorder or otherwise) and appearance-related insecurities, the latter of which affects far more people than BDD does.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cMost people have body-image concerns, but we don\u2019t want to label 90 percent of the population with a psychiatric disorder,\u201d says Dr. Phillips. \u201cWe have to draw a somewhat imperfect, but very important, line between sub-clinical concerns\u2014meaning [a line between] those not warranting a psychiatric diagnosis and the psychiatric diagnosis.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> In addition to a preoccupation with skin quality consuming at least one hour of an individual\u2019s day, cumulatively, it must lead to clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning, as Dr. Mostaghimi noted earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-medium font-serif py-5 w-full flex flex-col mt-[40px] md:mt-[56px] md-[24px] md:mb-[40px] justify-center items-center\" data-type=\"acf\/premium-article-image-quote\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col w-full mx-auto justify-center ml:items-center\">\n<div class=\"ml:w-full gap-[18px] mb-[9px] flex flex-col ml:flex-row-reverse ml:-mx-[8px] xl:-mx-[9px]\">\n<div class=\"w-full ml:w-1\/2 text-center\">\n<div class=\"flex justify-center items-center h-full px-[23px] md:px-[73px] ml:px-[24px] py-[30px] min-h-[400px]\" style=\"background-color:#6a9e6f;color:var(--article-accent-color-2-text)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-wg-quote block-thin flex flex-col relative mx-0 mb-0 p-0 !mt-[30px]\"><p><span class=\"text-quote !text-[95px] absolute top-[-10px] ml:top-[-30px] left-0 right-0 mx-auto\">\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"quote-quote text-center text-quote\">People with body dysmorphic disorder are actually visually perceiving themselves differently than other people see them<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"quote-credit text-center text-big italic opacity-60\"\/><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"w-full ml:w-1\/2\">\n<figure class=\"w-full h-full m-0 max-h-[600x]\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative\" style=\"height: 100%\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_Insets_image_848x1062_true_75.webp 848w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_Insets_image_1018x1274_true_75.webp 1018w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_Insets_image_848x1062_true_75.webp 848w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_Insets_image_1018x1274_true_75.webp 1018w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_Insets_image_848x1062_true_75.webp 848w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_Insets_image_1018x1274_true_75.webp 1018w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 848px,  (max-width:768px) 848px,  848px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cExamples of emotional distress are anxiety, low mood, depression, feelings that life isn&#8217;t worth living, embarrassment, shame\u2014a whole host of negative emotions,\u201d says Dr. Phillips. \u201cExamples of impairments in day-to-day functioning can include things like not concentrating as well because you&#8217;re obsessing about how your skin looks and very extreme impairments, like people not leaving their house for years because they think they look ugly and don&#8217;t want people to see them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> While someone with non-clinical skin concerns may critique themselves during a Zoom call\u2014and even buy a cream or book a facial afterward\u2014they won\u2019t continue to obsess outside of that specific moment the way someone with BDD would, says Dr. Ahmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> BDD patients will also engage in certain obsessive rituals not seen in those with non-clinical body-image issues. \u201c[BDD patients] perform repetitive behaviors in response to their appearance concerns, so they&#8217;ll check mirrors a lot, they&#8217;ll compare themselves to others, they\u2019ll engage in skin picking, and some will frequently research cosmetic or dermatologic procedures online,\u201d says Dr. Phillips.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Kent says the slightest imperfection or blemish would make her feel \u201cdisgusting\u201d and remembers frequently begging her mom to let her stay home from school because of how she felt she looked. \u201cPeople with body dysmorphic disorder are actually visually perceiving themselves differently than other people see them,\u201d says Dr. Phillips. \u201cThey worry that there&#8217;s something very wrong with how they look, that they look abnormal in some way or that they look deformed. Sometimes more extreme terms are used, like \u2018monstrous\u2019 or \u2018hideous.\u2019 In reality, these people look normal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Ultimately, says Dr. Phillips, those with clinical BDD have a distorted view of their appearance that is not aligned with reality. Whereas no one\u00a0<em>likes<\/em>\u00a0having a pimple, when someone with BDD or skin dysmorphia, gets a pimple, they may believe the pimple makes them unfit to be seen in public.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> And while body image issues can diminish mental health, BDD is downright dangerous. \u201cBody dysmorphic disorder is associated with very\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2361388\/#:~:text=Suicidal%20ideation%2C%20suicide%20attempts%2C%20and,to%2028%25%20have%20attempted%20suicide.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2361388\/#:~:text=Suicidal%20ideation%2C%20suicide%20attempts%2C%20and,to%2028%25%20have%20attempted%20suicide.\">high rates of suicidal thinking<\/a>, high rates of suicide attempts, and high rates of actual suicide,\u201d says Dr. Phillips.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h2 block-thin\" style=\"\"> Why BDD and skin dysmorphia may be on the rise<\/h2>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Unfortunately, good data on the prevalence of BDD is difficult to find, says Dr. Phillips. \u201cBig, population-based prevalence studies are hard and expensive to do.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/focus.psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/10.1176\/appi.focus.130217\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/focus.psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/10.1176\/appi.focus.130217\">We haven&#8217;t had a good one since 2015<\/a>,\u201d she says. What\u2019s more is that many studies mislabel non-clinical body-image issues as \u201cdysmorphia\u201d (think:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8823563\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8823563\/\">Zoom<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5933578\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5933578\/\">Snapchat<\/a>\u00a0dysmorphia), which means they aren\u2019t actually studying clinical BDD at all.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> While technology and social media can contribute to the development of BDD\u2014and can exacerbate its emergence for people who have some of the other risk factors listed below\u2014the facial fixations that can come along with using these platforms don\u2019t constitute a clinical BDD diagnosis on their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Still, both Dr. Phillips and Dr. Ahmed suspect that BDD is becoming more common, even if underdiagnosed officially. And because skin concerns are among the most common fixations of those who have BDD, skin dysmorphia is likely becoming more prevalent, too. The experts are able to hypothesize why this may be, pointing to several risk factors that may be at increased play, though in isolation will not unilaterally cause BDD.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> Social media<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> While social media alone will not cause BDD, the experts say it can certainly function as a risk factor. Dr. Mostaghimi points out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35182708\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35182708\/\">research<\/a>\u00a0showing that social media use leads to an increase in body dissatisfaction. \u201cLooking at heavily edited images, especially if the viewer is unaware that the images are edited, could increase dissatisfaction with one\u2019s body and increase unrealistic beauty standards,\u201d she says. Other\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34511957\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34511957\/\">research<\/a>\u00a0shows that regular exposure to exaggerated features, like lips plumped with filler, can cause a shift in what people find attractive. This could lead to a distorted view of one\u2019s natural physical features, which could contribute to dysmorphia, a focus on skin, or on other attributes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"premium-article-quote block-thin flex flex-col relative justify-center text-center mt-[37px] mb-[30px]\" data-type=\"acf\/premium-article-quote\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-wg-quote block-thin flex flex-col\">\n<p class=\"quote-quote text-quote\"> \u201cLooking at heavily edited images, especially if the viewer is unaware that the images are edited, could increase dissatisfaction with one\u2019s body and increase unrealistic beauty standards.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite class=\"quote-credit block font-serif text-[19px] italic opacity-60\">Ladan Mostaghimi, MD <\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> However Dr. Phillips notes that studies connecting the dots between social media and clinical BDD versus body-image issues, are hard to come by. One\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33408841\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33408841\/\">small 2020 study out of Saudi Arabia<\/a>\u00a0did show that BDD was \u201csignificantly associated\u201d with a longer duration spent on Snapchat and Instagram, though researchers pointed out that more studies with larger sample sizes are needed in order to assess the association. Another study, published in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamafacialplasticsurgery\/article-abstract\/2688763\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamafacialplasticsurgery\/article-abstract\/2688763\"><em>JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery<\/em><\/a> in 2018 suggested that filtered images could exacerbate BDD, and Dr. Ahmed says she\u2019s seen evidence of this connection in her practice. \u201cThese filters are just tragic,\u201d she says. \u201cThey make you think, \u2018I could look like that\u2019 when the effects are actually unachievable in real life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> People with BDD are more likely to use image-centric forms of social media to validate their appearance as well, says Dr. Phillips. \u201cThey tend to go online and change their appearance with various apps and compare themselves to others, especially with celebrities,\u201d she says. \u201cThese repetitive behaviors are very toxic, and they tend to keep the appearance-based obsessions going. Typically, they cause a lot of distress.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> For Kent, that distress comes as a result of not being able to control images she isn\u2019t editing and posting herself. \u201cOther people taking pictures of me completely freaks me out,\u201d she says. \u201cI worry the photo is going to get posted all over the internet and people will see it in my tagged photos and then they&#8217;ll be like, \u2018Look at Danielle, she&#8217;s so ugly.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-thin mt-[30px] mb-[40px]\">\n<div class=\"acf-video text-left relative\">\n<figure class=\"w-full h-full m-0\">\n<div class=\"image-2021 overflow-hidden h-0 relative !h-full\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.551326412918%;\"> <picture><source data-srcset=\" https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_InsetsInset3_867x577_true_75.webp 867w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_InsetsInset3_1040x692_true_75.webp 1040w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_InsetsInset3_867x577_true_75.webp 867w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_InsetsInset3_1040x692_true_75.webp 1040w, https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_InsetsInset3_867x577_true_75.webp 867w,https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SkinDysmorphiaArticle_InsetsInset3_1040x692_true_75.webp 1040w,\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\" (max-width:640px) 867px,  (max-width:768px) 867px,  867px\"\/><img class=\"image-2021__img block left-0 top-0 object-cover w-full !h-full min-h-full inset-0 lazy !absolute\" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" data-module-init=\"image-2021\" data-module-immediate=\"\" data-is-vue=\"\"\/> <\/picture> <\/div><figcaption class=\"text-gray-light text-[13px] leading-[20px] text-center\"> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> Video conferencing<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> One Harvard\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fhelix-sleep.tkjf.net%2Fc%2F2372336%2F605588%2F9928%3FsubId1%3DSTMSBT-1113607%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wired.com%252Fstory%252Fzoom-dysmorphia-the-real-world%252F&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbody-dysmorphic-disorder-skin%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/zoom-dysmorphia-the-real-world\/\" data-type=\"affiliateLink\">survey<\/a>\u00a0of 7,000 people found that those who\u2019d spent the most time on Zoom had the worst perception of their own appearance. To Dr. Ahmed, this tracks: When you\u2019re on a video conference call, you\u2019re staring at yourself for prolonged periods of time, which isn\u2019t something you\u2019d normally do in real life. This can cause you to become more aware of issues with your skin or facial features, and to feel as though they\u2019re more noticeable to others than you thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> This negative perception is exacerbated by the way computer cameras distort your appearance, for example, making your nose look bigger and your eyes look smaller, says Dr. Phillips.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> Stress<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> As is the case with many mental health conditions, stress can be a trigger or risk factor for BDD, and many people\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8554139\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8554139\/\">stress levels have increased exponentially in the past few years<\/a>. \u201cThe pandemic and social isolation have been a big source of stress for everyone, especially young people,\u201d says Dr. Mostaghimi. \u201cIt has also increased the use of social media as the preferred way of communication. This will need further epidemiological studies, but there are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/adaa.org\/learn-from-us\/from-the-experts\/blog-posts\/professional\/body-dysmorphic-disorder-and-impact-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/adaa.org\/learn-from-us\/from-the-experts\/blog-posts\/professional\/body-dysmorphic-disorder-and-impact-covid-19\">reports<\/a>\u00a0pointing toward the aggravation of BDD during the pandemic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h3 block-thin\" style=\"\"> Societal pressures<\/h3>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> The cultural fixation with youth may also be contributing to facial dysmorphia. Dr. Ahmed says many of her patients seek to correct what she calls \u201cage-appropriate skin,\u201d and may have a distorted view of how they look as a result. \u201cThere is this age-related dysmorphia, where the normal process [of aging] has been made to feel abnormal, and you feel so guilty or ashamed to look the age that you are,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> While Dr. Phillips emphasizes that the term \u201cage-related dysmorphia\u201d is not a clinical diagnosis, she agrees that BDD can\u00a0<em>involve<\/em>\u00a0an obsessive focus on aging skin. \u201cWe don\u2019t really know if sensitivity about aging and unrealistic expectations about aging are causing BDD to be more common, but this is quite possible,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9008869\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9008869\/\">Pervasive ageism in society has been shown to lead to mental health issues<\/a>\u00a0related to normal aging, but Dr. Phillips says that an individual would have to meet all the criteria in order to be diagnosed with BDD.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"next-core\/paragraph core-heading text-h2 block-thin\" style=\"\"> How to treat skin dysmorphia<\/h2>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> \u201cIf anybody is spending an excess of time thinking about a skin issue, and it&#8217;s impacting their quality of life, they should seek a professional opinion,\u201d says Dr. Ahmed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> One of the most common and effective treatments for BDD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). In it, \u201cyou learn how to evaluate your thoughts and develop more accurate and helpful thoughts,\u201d says Dr. Phillips. \u201cYou learn strategies to stop all those repetitive behaviors, like checking yourself online or checking mirrors or comparing yourself with others or skin picking, and you also learn how to feel more comfortable going out and being around other people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> When BDD is severe, Dr. Phillips says CBT may be used alongside medication to treat patients. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2705931\/#:~:text=Serotonin%2Dreuptake%20inhibitors%20(SRIs%2C,appropriately%20tailored%20to%20BDD%20symptoms.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2705931\/#:~:text=Serotonin%2Dreuptake%20inhibitors%20(SRIs%2C,appropriately%20tailored%20to%20BDD%20symptoms.\">commonly prescribed to people with BDD<\/a>. With them, \u201csymptoms usually improve substantially,&#8221; she says. &#8220;People aren&#8217;t as distressed, they aren&#8217;t as depressed, suicidality often improves, and functioning often improves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> And while dermatologists will certainly treat skin conditions that actually exist in a patient with BDD\u2014like acne, for example\u2014Dr. Phillips and her colleagues do not recommend these patients undergo cosmetic procedures. \u201cFor people with BDD, it usually doesn\u2019t help, and it can make things worse,\u201d she says. As another example, if there\u2019s scarring from skin picking, Dr. Phillips says she may treat that, but only after a patient has undergone treatment for their underlying dysmorphia first.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> Because BDD can be a life-threatening illness, self-treatment is not advised; however, Dr. Ahmed says certain resources that can be used in conjunction with professional help. She recommends checking out the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bddfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/bddfoundation.org\/\">Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation<\/a>\u00a0as well as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bfrb.org\/learn-about-bfrbs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.bfrb.org\/learn-about-bfrbs\">Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors<\/a>\u00a0website. \u201cThey&#8217;ll have a lot of tips and tricks on there that you can try,\u201d she says. \u201cFor skin picking, for example, they might recommend making tweezers inaccessible or giving them to someone who you trust who you&#8217;ll have to ask them for so you&#8217;re less likely to [harm your skin].\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> What\u2019s most important, though, is to be honest with yourself about what\u2019s happening so you can take steps to get help. \u201cPeople are often very ashamed of their appearance concerns and don&#8217;t want others to know that they&#8217;re so focused on their appearance,\u201d says Dr. Phillips. \u201cMaybe they&#8217;re afraid they&#8217;ll be considered vain or superficial, or they don&#8217;t want to draw more attention to what they think looks really ugly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> But BDD is not vanity\u2014it\u2019s a mental health disorder that needs to be taken seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> <em>Citations<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"core-paragraph block-thin text-big\" style=\"\"> <em>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/em><\/p>\n<ol class=\"core-list block-thin premium-list premium-list-ordered\">\n<li><em>Nicewicz HR, Boutrouille JF. Body Dysmorphic Disorder. [Updated 2022 Sep 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK555901\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK555901\/\"><em>https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK555901\/<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<li><em>Schut, C., et al. \u201cBody dysmorphia in common skin diseases: results of an observational, cross-sectional multicentre study among dermatological outpatients in 17 European countries*\u201d. Br J Dermatol, 187 (2022): 115-125. <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/bjd.21021\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/bjd.21021\"><em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/bjd.21021<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<li><em>Bjornsson, Andri S et al. \u201cBody dysmorphic disorder.\u201d Dialogues in clinical neuroscience vol. 12,2 (2010): 221-32. doi:10.31887\/DCNS.2010.12.2\/abjornsson\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Li, Wei et al. \u201cBody Dysmorphic Disorder: Neurobiological Features and an Updated Model.\u201d Zeitschrift fur klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie (Gottingen, Germany) vol. 42,3 (2013): 184-191. doi:10.1026\/1616-3443\/a000213<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Phillips, Katharine A. \u201cSuicidality in Body Dysmorphic Disorder.\u201d Primary psychiatry vol. 14,12 (2007): 58-66.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Buhlmann, Ulrike , et al. &#8220;Updates on the Prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Population-Based Survey.&#8221; The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 2015, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1176\/appi.focus.130217\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1176\/appi.focus.130217\"><em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1176\/appi.focus.130217<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Ramphul, Kamleshun. \u201c&#8221;Zoom Dysmorphia&#8221;: the rise of a new issue amidst the pandemic.\u201d Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis vol. 92,6 e2021348. 19 Jan. 2022, doi:10.23750\/abm.v92i6.12523<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Ramphul, Kamleshun, and Stephanie G Mejias. \u201cIs &#8220;Snapchat Dysmorphia&#8221; a Real Issue?.\u201d Cureus vol. 10,3 e2263. 3 Mar. 2018, doi:10.7759\/cureus.2263<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Maymone, Mayra B C, and George Kroumpouzos. \u201cIncorporation of social media questions in body dysmorphic disorder scales: A proposed revision.\u201d Clinics in dermatology vol. 40,5 (2022): 554-555. doi:10.1016\/j.clindermatol.2022.02.015<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Goldie, Kate et al. \u201cAesthetic Delusions: An Investigation into the Role of Rapid Visual Adaptation in Aesthetic Practice.\u201d Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology vol. 14 1079-1087. 26 Aug. 2021, doi:10.2147\/CCID.S305976<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Alsaidan, Mohammed Saud et al. \u201cThe prevalence and determinants of body dysmorphic disorder among young social media users: A cross-sectional study.\u201d Dermatology reports vol. 12,3 8774. 22 Dec. 2020, doi:10.4081\/dr.2020.8774<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Rajanala, Susruthi , et al. &#8220;Selfies\u2014Living in the Era of Filtered Photographs.&#8221; JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, 2018, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamafacial.2018.0486\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamafacial.2018.0486\"><em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamafacial.2018.0486<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Manchia, Mirko et al. \u201cThe impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on stress resilience and mental health: A critical review across waves.\u201d European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology vol. 55 (2022): 22-83. doi:10.1016\/j.euroneuro.2021.10.864<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Kang, Hyun, and Hansol Kim. \u201cAgeism and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review.\u201d Gerontology &amp; geriatric medicine vol. 8 23337214221087023. 11 Apr. 2022, doi:10.1177\/23337214221087023<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Phillips, Katharine A, and Eric Hollander. \u201cTreating body dysmorphic disorder with medication: evidence, misconceptions, and a suggested approach.\u201d Body image vol. 5,1 (2008): 13-27. doi:10.1016\/j.bodyim.2007.12.003<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on pinterest Share on email As an 11-year-old sixth-grader in the early aughts, Danielle Kent, now a publicist based in Los Angeles, began fixating on her skin. She would carry a makeup bag with her at all times to \u201cfix\u201d her perceived flaws at any given moment.\u00a0 \u201cI &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}