Love the Skin You’re in: Normalizing “Imperfect” Skin This Summer

It’s summertime, which means not only are the seasons changing, but the fashion as well.

And I’m not talking fashion trends, I’m talking trading out your mom jeans for a pair of light blue denim shorts. Your short sleeve t-shirts and crop tops will replace your long sleeve shirts and crewnecks. And, the color gray will cease to exist as the weather gets hotter and you start to sweat.

But as summertime fashion rears its head around the corner, you might be dreading it, knowing that you will eventually show more skin.

The Issues With Showing Skin

Showing skin could be a very sensitive subject for people struggling with skin conditions. The idea of skin coming in different colors and textures has not yet been normalized. There are still people that will whisper to their friend about the way someone’s legs look, or be irritatingly brave enough to ask about the acne on your shoulder.

Everyone's skin is different, which makes summertime just a bit more anxiety-inducing for those with skin diseases.

But I’m here to tell you that you should absolutely be confident in your skin no matter what it looks like.

Eczema

Eczema is a type of skin swelling. It can look different depending on who has it and where it appears on their body. It can be dry and itchy or even turn red from people who constantly scratch on it. These splotches may appear anywhere on the body, but if someone has eczema on their legs or arms, it may be in a “no-no” spot for people who don’t want others to see their eczema.

I completely understand why someone would not want to show their skin. Sometimes it feels just embarrassing, other times you don’t want to feel subjected to questions about it. Both lead to an acknowledgment of the condition, something that most people don’t want to give energy to when talking to someone so casually.

A Change of Mindset

Whatever the case may be, it’s important to know that the only way things can get normalized is for people like us to just start wearing whatever we want.

As a person who loves skirts (all year round), I've had to overcome how my dark spotted legs might be perceived by other people. It was difficult, but to help myself overcome it and to get to a place where I could feel great wearing whatever I want, I had to remember one thing:

“No one thinks your legs look weird, and if they do, you wouldn’t want to be friends with them anyway”.

It’s a bit corny yes, but sometimes phrases like this can help your inner anxiety as you decide what to wear that day. Simply remember that any person who negatively comments, whether verbally or not, on your skin is someone whose opinion you don’t value.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is another skin condition that people may feel uncomfortable being shown in their summer clothes. Patches of psoriasis are usually found in areas that are easily seen by others, such as knees and elbows and scalp.

Once again, it's important to remember that you only have one life and that, if you want to wear that one cute top, or those cute shorts, you should! What other people say or don’t say shouldn’t matter because your comfort and confidence is the most important part.

Solutions

If you simply don’t feel comfortable with certain skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, or even acne, it’s always okay to cover them up in a way that makes you feel self-assured.

Some people with psoriasis on their head cover it up with hats that they enjoy, which could aid your confidence. The hat helps protect you from the sun while also being a good block of your psoriasis. It provides both a functional and fashionable choice in deciding what to wear.

People who get random pimple spots on their face will use pimple patches to add both protection and confidence to their looks. Sometimes those patches will have designs, therefore calling attention to the idea of imperfect skin and how it’s normal. Depending on the design, the pimple patch can be a great way to cover what you don’t necessarily like while still acknowledging and normalizing having the acne in the first place.

It’s up to each person to decide what they’re going to do this summer, but know that having imperfect skin should be the norm. Not all of us have to be perfect and I know that any person who subjects themselves to be perfect will resent their own livelihood.

By taking that first step and showing your skin no matter what (non-spreadable) skin condition you have, you are not only courageous, but you're helping normalize the culture around imperfect skin.

Because at the end of the day, imperfect skin is just skin.