Several young women report that amid mounting psychological pressure, forced confinement to their homes, and deprivation of education and work, they have begun seeking dermatological treatment. While these treatments have improved their skin condition to some extent, they say, nothing has eased the pain of being cut off from school, employment, and a normal life. Many dermatologists and cosmetic specialists, meanwhile, trace the root of these skin problems to stress driven by an uncertain future, forced domesticity, economic and family pressures, and, in some cases, forced marriage.
Sara (pseudonym), one of the young women trying to reclaim her lost vitality and appearance, recalls: “When I was at university and working, my days were full. I had no idle time, I was happy, I had goals and plans, and I studied with real motivation. My skin felt fine back then. But then our university was shut down, and girls were banned from the workplace where I worked. They said the Taliban had not given permission. I became housebound. I tried to keep busy with reading and housework, but the idleness, lack of money, and loss of purpose grew worse every day. Dark circles appeared under my eyes, my face broke out in acne, my pores enlarged, and my hair started falling out. Makeup would not even sit properly on my skin.”
She adds, “Every time I looked in the mirror, the pain cut deeper. I eventually saw a doctor, and it has now been nearly five months since I started treatment. My skin has improved, but the joy and hope I once had have not come back. Nothing is more valuable than freedom.”
Arezu (pseudonym) tells a similar story. After she was banned from work and confined to her home, her mental and physical health gradually deteriorated. “After the ban, I stayed home. Every day, I looked more exhausted. I could not sleep or eat properly, and my skin slowly lost its glow. My suffering kept growing.” When she finally visited a dermatologist, the doctor attributed her condition to stress, poor nutrition, and chronic sleep deprivation.
“Those same factors had damaged my skin,” Arezu says. “It has been about three months since I started treatment, and my skin has improved. Seeing other women come in to look after themselves gave me some hope. But in this climate of growing despair and economic hardship, self-care has become a luxury many women simply cannot afford.”
Khatira (pseudonym), a dermatologist and cosmetic specialist, says most of her patients are women and girls between the ages of 13 and 45. The majority of their skin problems, she says, originate in stress and psychological strain. “The patients I see most often are young women. They come in with acne, skin blemishes, unwanted facial hair, and general dullness and fatigue, problems that are almost always stress-related.”
She adds, “Stress does not only affect the skin. It disrupts the body’s internal systems and frequently causes hormonal imbalances. That is why these conditions require sustained and often lengthy treatment. Only 15 to 20 percent of my patients can see the treatment through. Many others cannot complete the process because of financial constraints and the absence of social support.”
Ahmad Masih Samim, a specialist in dermatology and cosmetic medicine, says that stress rooted in an uncertain future, forced confinement, economic and family pressures, and forced marriages have had a direct impact on the mental and skin health of women and girls. “In recent months, I have seen a rise in patients seeking treatment for hair loss, laser hair removal, skin cleansing, and blemish removal,” he says. “These are conditions largely caused by stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).”
Abdul Jalal Amarkhil, a psychologist, argues that social media pressure is one of the primary drivers of women’s and girls’ growing anxiety about their appearance. “Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat constantly project unrealistic beauty standards,” he says. “Filters, makeup, and professional camera angles make people feel that their real selves are not enough. They compare themselves to others constantly and begin to believe that everyone is flawless except themselves.” This relentless comparison, he warns, can erode self-esteem, trigger appearance-related anxiety, breed body dissatisfaction, and fuel an obsession with one’s looks.
“In many societies, girls are taught from childhood that beauty equals worth,” Amarkhil adds. “When a person feels that attention, acceptance, affection, success, or even marriage prospects depend on how they look, the pull toward cosmetic intervention grows stronger. Beneath all of this lies a fundamental need for acceptance, recognition, and a sense of worth. Modern society, however, has tied those needs almost entirely to outward appearance.”
This comes as officials from several beauty centers in Kabul told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that client numbers have risen in recent weeks. Despite economic hardship and the sweeping social changes that have followed the Taliban’s takeover, they noted, people continue to invest in their appearance.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
زندهگی زیر فشار طالبان؛ زنان: «غمهایمان را با آرایش پنهان میکنیم»
