Key takeaways:

• Some 44% of people with acne spend more on skincare than they can afford.
• Likewise, 88% say acne has impacted their confidence, with 22% admitting it has destroyed their self-esteem and 39% having avoided social situations as a result.
• Some 33% say acne has damaged their dating prospects, with 27% having canceled a planned date at the last minute due to a breakout.
• Acne also hurts established relationships, with 22% believing that their partner has found them less attractive due to skincare issues in the past, while 42% have avoided intimate moments.

You spend weeks counting down the days to that big night out or long-awaited date – until a glance in the mirror reveals an unwanted guest: acne. Like clockwork, pimples always appear at the worst possible time, derailing our plans and forcing us to hide away. One spot can spiral us into self-doubt, turning our excitement into anxiety. And the more we stress, the worse it gets. For many, acne and mental health are intertwined, with breakouts battering our self-esteem and leading to depression. To understand the impacts, Luvly surveyed 1,700 people with acne on how it impacts their social lives, self-image, and romantic relationships. The results show that while acne may come and go, the emotional impact often lingers.

Glow up or go broke: The financial burden of treating acne

At the first sign of redness, we start searching for “best skincare for adult acne” and don’t hesitate to spend big on the latest serum Instagram recommends and cleansers featuring all the right buzzwords. While many products work miracles, they rarely come cheap – and the risk of suffering a financial flare-up is high, with 44% of acne sufferers admitting they spend more on skincare products and treatments than they can really afford.

Acne and self-esteem: How does acne impact us under the surface?

Pimples are nothing to stress over, yet the psychological impact of acne shows many do. Some 88% of those with the skin condition say it has affected their confidence, with 22% admitting it has destroyed their confidence. Do you find yourself questioning, “Why does acne make me feel ugly?” Unrealistic beauty standards, the social pressure to look flawless, and the filtered perfection we’re so used to seeing on social media likely have something to do with it. Is acne unattractive? No, it’s normal. The vast majority of people face skincare issues. Chances are, you don’t even look twice when someone else is suffering a breakout – so don’t let a few pimples stop you from being your confident self.

Pore confidence: The struggles of dating with acne

Acne doesn’t just mark your skin. It seeps into your confidence, self-esteem, and often your love life. Dating is all about putting your best face forward – but how can you possibly show your match the best you when you don’t feel it? For those dating with acne, every pimple is like a spotlight drawing their date’s eye, with 32% admitting the resulting insecurities have damaged their dating life.

Ugly, unattractive, undesirable… If you want to learn how to be confident with acne, start by reminding yourself that this is how you see yourself, not how others see you. Everyone meets the occasional mean match who thrives on making others feel bad. Yet, a few spots won't turn off the decent ones you genuinely connect with (because they get them, too). In fact, just 17% of those who suffer from acne say they’ve had a romantic interest directly comment or reject them due to their skin condition.

More often than not, it isn’t our dates that reject us, but ourselves. With 27% of those who deal with acne admitting they have canceled a date at the last minute due to suffering a breakout, we’re our own worst critics. Sure, acne and social anxiety go hand in hand – but don’t let their relationship stand in the way of your love life.

Breakouts and breakups: Is acne ruining our relationships?

You can spend months and years getting to know someone, yet when acne has knocked your confidence, even a minor blemish can cause you to question whether they still see you the same way. Some 22% believe that a simple spot or two has caused their partner to find them less physically attractive. In a world obsessed with image, acne can sap our confidence, costing us more money than we can afford, special moments with loved ones, and meaningful connections with potential matches. But everyone breaks out, and nobody is without the occasional blemish. Acne doesn’t define you; it makes you human – so stop letting pimples put your life on hold.

Methodology

The data in this report derives from a survey conducted by Luvly. The survey was launched in May 2025. In total, 1,700 people with acne were surveyed, and all respondents took the full survey. All ethnicities and age groups over 18 years old were included in the study.