...the idea of perfection is ridiculous but somehow there is the ideology of perfect skin... A qualitative investigation of the meaning of perfect skin for those with and without a visible difference

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the meaning of perfect skin for those with and without a visible difference. Facebook focus groups were used to collect primary data, using snowballing and opportunistic sampling methods. A heterogeneous sample of participants were recruited to ensure maximum variation (Patton, 2015), allowing the researcher to identify the most important themes across a diverse group. Participants were divided into a visible difference group (participants with skin conditions; aged 21-54; 9 women, 3 men) and a non-visible difference group (those without skin conditions; aged 18- 33; 9 women, 3 men). Once ethical approval was granted, the data was collected, and analysed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Four superordinate themes were identified for discussion; The importance of blending in not standing out; The appearance of the skin is the responsibility of the individual; The ideology of perfect skin; The changing importance of the skin across the lifespan. Most interesting, was the level of agreement across both groups. Future research should aim to further explore the lived experience, and stigma surrounding the skin, by including participants with an invisible difference. As well as the impact social media has on the perception of the skin.