This solace can come from someone else's unfiltered photo evidencing their blemished skin in its natural state, or from posting their own pictures and receiving uplifting messages of support and solidarity in the comments section. Commiseration is real: It can be a powerful coping mechanism that has the potential to create a sense of community and change the course of some people's lives. (Consider that the next time a stranger shares their skin woes with you.)

The Positives

You didn't just hear it from me, though. "Social media allows people to connect in a way that was not possible even a decade ago and allows people to easily find others who are suffering or going through similar issues," muses dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible, Anjali Mahto, who has been candid about her own battle with cystic acne on Instagram. She continues to share her skin journey on social media in hopes that it would help dissolve some of the stigmas that skin experts, especially dermatologists, should always have crystal-clear complexions. "This hopefully leads to positive reinforcement that it is acceptable to talk about acne and prevent a feeling of being isolated," says Mahto.

Based on the number of people, including influencers like Ingrid Nilsen and high-profile celebrities like Kendall Jenner, who have shared their own relatable skin stories, posted bare-faced selfies, and supported those suffering from crippling conditions, it appears we're on the right track to what could someday be a skin-judgment-free society. Maybe not everyone is on board yet, but social media has certainly become a safer space for people to strip down, forgo the filters, and get raw with their followers.

Instagram is definitely a vital platform for the skin-positive movement.

YouTubers Kadeeja Khan and Rocio Cervantes are just two of many who prove the growth of the movement to be true. Both bloggers have chosen to speak out about acne and self-acceptance on their accounts, and the positive feedback they've garnered because of it has been remarkable.

"The amount of love, positive, and sweet comments I received by just sharing myself with major breakouts to people was so overwhelming in a great way," says Cervantes. "I still get so many messages about that post and how it helped their struggle with accepting themselves, so I would definitely say Instagram is a vital platform for the skin-positive movement. It allows people to reach out to those who deal with common struggles." See? Sliding into someone's DMs can actually be therapeutic, as well as an excellent way to keep this conversation going.

The Drawbacks

As with any sort of activism that seeks to adjust societal norms, the skin-acceptance movement hasn't seen its way through without backlash from people who fear it or fail to understand it (the two often go hand in hand). For instance, Khan notes that it's likely that some beauty brands will never truly change their advertising tactics, using visuals of people with "perfect," Photoshopped skin that yields the unrealistic expectations.

This movement isn't promoting the idea that you must have a skin condition. You can promote acceptance while treating your own acne.

Brands are one thing, but online trolls are an entirely different beast. They hide behind screens, typing insensitive or malicious messages aimed at those who are simply trying to say, "It's OK to be yourself." Nainika tells me over email that she sometimes sees people on social media, who are promoting skin-positivity, get flack for trying to treat their skin. "They get criticized for being 'fake,' but this movement isn't about promoting the idea that you must have a skin condition," she says. "You can promote acceptance while treating your own acne. No one ever deserves to be bullied."