Igor Ustynskyy / Getty Images
One of the great joys of boarding school is being with your friends 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But if you’re a teenager with a highly visible skin disorder such as acne, constantly living under the gaze of your peers can be stressful. A recent study in an international journal specialising in dermatology showed that almost 90 per cent of 15-year-olds felt embarrassed and self-conscious about their acne, causing a quarter of them to avoid sport, swimming, and even social interactions – and this could be exacerbated in a boarding environment.
‘The impact [for teenagers with skin disorders] can be devastating, leading to low mood, depression and social avoidance as well as the inevitable lack of self-esteem and self-belief,’ says Marina Gardiner Legge, headmistress of Heathfield School in Ascot.