03/31/2023

Friends of Franz Podcast S2 E14: Zit-ting Down with My Acne Big Cyster Cassandra Bankson

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 50 million Americans are affected by acne annually, making it the most common skin condition. Defined as the clogging of hair follicles with oil and dead skin cells, acne usually begins in adolescence though it can extend up to adulthood. Beyond the overt physical pain and struggle of breakouts and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, acne - and all of its forms, whether pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, or cysts - also bring about emotional and psychological effects that are beyond skin deep. A 2008 study showed that acne significantly brought more depressive symptoms, greater feelings of uselessness, lower self-worth, and decreased body satisfaction. As a former victim of severe acne, I can personally attest to all of this.

We zit down today with my Acne Big Cyster, Cassandra Bankson. A professional model, medical esthetician, skincare expert, and online social media personality from San Francisco, Cassandra was first known from her viral 2010 YouTube video where she stripped off her makeup to reveal her acne, now reaching 30 million views. Struggling with acne vulgaris from age 8 to acne conglobata by age 14, she relays her journey of seeking help from 16 different specialists across the United States and Western Europe, which proved futile. Today, with over 2 million subscribers, she shares her story of overcoming acne and societal beauty ideals while educating others about the different skin products and treatments. She has been named a "rising woman of power" by Forbes Magazine, a Teen Vogue Acne Awards judge, and featured in Good Morning America, Seventeen, Glamour, The New York Post, and much more!