Australian acne skincare brand The Breakout Hack is encouraging Australians to ‘Give Acne The Finger’ in a new campaign which is raising funds for youth mental health charity ReachOut.
At the centre of the campaign, conceived and produced in-house, is a giant middle finger roaming Sydney’s CBD, designed as a public declaration that acne doesn’t get to dictate how people live their lives.
The activation will be supported by thought-provoking bus takeovers and community activations designed to spark conversations around confidence, self-worth and the emotional toll of acne.
The Breakout Hack will donate $1 from every Spot Cream sold throughout the “Give Acne The Finger” campaign to ReachOut. The funds will help ReachOut continue providing free mental health information, tools and support services to young people in Australia navigating life’s challenges.
For founder Rachael Wilde, the campaign was born from seeing first-hand how many young people allow acne to hold them back from opportunities, relationships and everyday experiences.
“Acne can impact so much more than your skin. It can affect your confidence, your social life and how you see yourself. We wanted to create a campaign that gives people permission to stop waiting for perfect skin before they start living their lives,” said Wilde.
“Giving acne the finger is about rejecting shame, embracing confidence and reminding people that their worth isn’t determined by what’s happening on their face.”
ReachOut’s Clinical Lead, Linda Williams, says the campaign taps into a well-documented link between skin conditions and mental health.
“Navigating skin conditions like acne can be incredibly challenging for a young person. It can feel like everyone is judging you, which can seriously impact a young person’s body image and lead to feelings of isolation if they start withdrawing from their social life.
“The reality is that conditions like acne are extremely common, and perfect skin really only exists on screens.
Campaigns like this one are important to remind young people that they’re not alone and that seeking help can have a big impact on how you’re feeling.
“At ReachOut, young people can learn more about how skin conditions can impact their mental health and wellbeing, get practical tips on how to cope, and connect with peer support too.”
