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Lifestyle

The one thing that makes you look unprofessional in the office: survey

By
Andrew Court
Published Oct. 20, 2022
Updated Oct. 20, 2022, 4:21 p.m. ET

Tens of millions of Americans have swapped sweatpants for corporate clothing in recent months as they finally head back into the office.

And while several white-collar workers say they’ve been “shamed” for their “inappropriate” attire, there’s one thing that many say makes an employee look “unprofessional” — and it’s not a short skirt or a busty blouse.

Breakouts and bad skin make office workers appear less proficient, according to the surprise results of a new survey, published in the Daily Mail.

SkinB5 polled 200 professionals aged 30 and under, with 41% of respondents saying they agreed with that sentiment.

Meanwhile, a whopping 32% of those polled also believed that zits and acne were connected with poor hygiene.

“It’s shocking that people hold misguided beliefs around what acne says about you as a person,” SkinB5’s Judy Cheung-Wood told the publication.

“Acne has absolutely nothing to do with professionalism, your ability to perform a job, or your personal hygiene,” she added. “The reality is, acne is no different to any other health issue that needs to be managed, and it is not your fault.”

Meanwhile, one-quarter of those polled admitted they had suffered from acne and turned off their cameras during remote work meetings for fear their bad skin would make them appear less competent and professional.

A new survey has found a substantial number of people believe bad skin and breakouts make a person appear unprofessional.
A new survey has found a substantial number of people believe bad skin and breakouts make a person appear unprofessional. Getty Images (2)
Given that a person's appearance is often subconsciously or consciously associated with their performance or competence at work, numerous surveys have found a link between bad skin and ideas of unprofessionalism.
Given that a person’s appearance is often subconsciously or consciously associated with their performance or competence at work, numerous surveys have found a link between bad skin and ideas of unprofessionalism. Getty Images

But while the results may be shocking, they’re not the first to link bad skin with assumptions of unprofessionalism.

Back in 2015, a study by Dermatology and Therapy found people believed those with bad skin or blemishes were less likely to be hired for a job.

Meanwhile, in 2020, skincare blogger Hayley Wester took to Instagram to ask whether acne was “unprofessional” because many people consciously or subconsciously associate an employee’s performance with their physical appearance.

One person responded to Wester’s viral post saying that they believed bosses were beginning to focus less on a person’s looks in relation to their ability to carry out their duties on the job.

“I don’t think acne is unprofessional,” they stated. “I feel like professional field careers/jobs are starting to focus on a person’s performance rather than appearance, which makes more sense to me.”