Curology Survey: Back-to-School Skin Woes Plague Students

Acne is the No. 1 reason students edit their appearance with social filters.

When thinking of going back to school, nearly 72% of students report feeling the pressure to look "perfect" by higher beauty standards set by social media, according to a survey of 2,000 American teens and young adults sponsored by Curology.

What’s more, 25% of students go so far as to say they're not comfortable sharing their bare face on social media without makeup or facial filters. In fact, those who use filters to alter their appearance were 22% more likely to report having back-to-school anxiety than students who don't alter their photos, the survey showed.

The survey also found that:

• Acne is the No. 1 reason students edit their appearance with social filters
• 75% of respondents said they believe beauty standards are much higher due to the use of filters on social media
• Those with severe acne were almost twice as likely as those with almost clear skin to be concerned about "living up to" the image they've created for themselves online (20% vs 11%)
• More than half of students with acne (59%) report being nervous about both making new friends and socializing in person when they go back to school
• Nearly 4 in 5 respondents (77%) agreed that having clear skin makes them feel confident and empowered
• More than one in three respondents (37%) wish they could "walk around with a facial filter on in-real-life"
• 77% of students said they were interested in improving their skin as part of their overall wellness

"With the rise of social media filters, students today are under more pressure to look 'perfect' than ever before," says Curology CEO Heather Wallace in a news release. "Struggling with acne and other skin issues can be a deeply emotional experience. Our goal at Curology is to encourage students to feel comfortable and confident in their skin. With access to our licensed dermatology providers and effective treatments, we aim to provide students with skincare that actually works."

Supporting students' skincare journeys is part of Curology's mission to make effective skincare accessible for all. This includes Curology's Access Program, a monthly program through which Curology provides a credit of up to $485 to 200 teenagers from families that qualify for the National School Lunch Program or young adults who provide documentation of financial need. To date, over 6,000 people have benefitted from the program, marking an almost $3 million investment from the brand.