Why We Need an Acne-Positivity Movement

From the depths of social media has emerged an acne-positive movement that doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Instead of covering up zits and blemishes with makeup or drastic lighting in their selfies, Instagram users are proudly uploading photos of their untouched faces —pimples and all.

As body-positive Instagram accounts have gained tremendous momentum in the last year or so, it makes sense for accounts celebrating natural skin imperfections to follow suit. Celebrities are also joining the movement. In March, Justin Bieber posted an Instagram story featuring his acne-stricken forehead in which he announced, “Pimples are in”. Last year, Chrissy Tiegen shared a vulnerable Snapchat video about her blotchy period skin.

Participants in the acne-positivity community aren’t begging their zits to stay. Their objective is to create an inclusive environment where people can support each other and share tips on managing their acne. Some popular acne-positive accounts have garnered tremendous followings. Take for example, Hailey Wait, one of the movement’s primary influencers, who told her story to Glamour, "I got tired of waking up each morning and covering my skin up, and over time I noticed that it only made my acne worse. I needed to let my skin breathe, and so as an experiment I started posting selfies on my Instagram that showed my acne. I was expecting loads of hate, but at the time I had a small but very loyal following, and instead of being disgusted, the majority of the feedback I got was praise."