From Katja Street
I have been following the correspondence on teenage acne with some interest and have just read David Feldman’s letter published on 11 March.
He suggests that acne is a signal that humans are not yet mature enough to reproduce. This is a nice theory, but from experience I can see some problems with it. Firstly, acne is known to continue well past the teenage years in many cases. I myself am 20 years old and still suffer. And I have plenty of friends in their early twenties with the same problem. A person in their twenties can surely be considered mature enough to reproduce. And what about 30 year-olds who still suffer acne?
Secondly, I also know people who have suffered approximately five spots in their entire teenage years (in fact, several individuals with this type of complexion seem to grace the covers of many magazines). So where do they fit in?
My personal theory is that acne is an independent life form – a parasite that feeds off certain negative emotions, for example stress caused by low self-confidence. Humans are considered the only species to show such a wide range of emotions, are they not? And everybody knows acne always breaks out 24 hours before parties and school photo sessions …
Advertisement
