I’m a 26-year-old man working in tech. A few years ago, I had a medical condition and the medication caused severe acne that eventually left me with significant acne scars. Since then, my confidence has taken a huge hit. I grew up in a dysfunctional household with parents who were constantly fighting. Despite that, I worked hard, earned a Computer Science degree from Columbia University, and now work at a well-known tech company. On paper, my life looks successful, but my self-esteem has never been lower. I worked from home for years after COVID and gradually stopped going out because I became so self-conscious about my appearance. Now that I’m required to be in the office, I find myself dreading every day. I hate looking at my face in the mirror. I constantly feel like people are staring at my scars or judging me. Nobody says anything directly, but I often assume they’re disgusted by how I look. Dating has been especially hard. I’ve been rejected a few times, and every rejection feels like confirmation that my scars are the reason. I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars on treatments. I’ve seen some improvement (maybe around 40%), but emotionally I feel stuck. For men who have dealt with visible scars, disfigurements, or other appearance-related insecurities: How did you stop letting it define your entire identity? How do you rebuild confidence when you genuinely dislike the way you look? submitted by /u/BoomBoomBoooomer
Originally posted by u/BoomBoomBoooomer on r/AskMen