Body Dysmorphia in Teens: Symptoms and Treatment Options
For some teens, it might start with something small, like spending more time in front of the mirror or avoiding photos, which might seem like normal teenage insecurity. But sometimes these concerns start to grow into something more consuming.
Body dysmorphia in teens can significantly impact how a teen sees themselves, making them think there is something “wrong” or “flawed” with them. But because not many people know about the condition, it frequently gets misunderstood.
If you’re concerned that body issues in teens might signal body dysmorphia, it’s important to seek professional advice. Without treatment, the condition can interfere with daily life and cause severe distress. This page can also work as a guide to body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents, as it explores:
- What body dysmorphia is and the common signs in teens
- The causes of body dysmorphic disorder
- How it impacts teen mental health and treatment options for BDD
- The ways you can support your teen
- Answers to commonly asked questions about body dysmorphic disorder in teens
What Is Body Dysmorphia in Teens?
The body dysmorphia definition is a mental health condition in which someone becomes fixated with perceived defects or “flaws” in their appearance, even though they outwardly appear normal.1 But body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents is more than just disliking how you look on a bad day. It’s a constant and intrusive pattern of thoughts about appearance that can take up hours of your teen’s day and affect their mood, behavior, and self-worth.
Determining how common body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is can be challenging because of the variations in diagnostic criteria – the screening tools used across studies – and the population studied. For this reason, the rates of BDD vary from 3% to 20%, with the highest rates being found in cosmetic/dermatology settings.[1]
However, among teens, studies show the rates of body dysmorphia are around 2% and affect more females than males. Experts also report that 70% of young people with BDD also have co-occurring mental health disorders, such as depression, social anxiety, and self-harming behaviors.[2]
Though there are higher rates of BDD in females, males can also experience it, but may have different concerns. Teenage females tend to feel more dissatisfied with body fat, facial hair, height, and complexion. Whereas, teenage males feel more frustrated with their muscles, acne, height, weight, and hair.[3]
What Body Dysmorphia in Adolescents May Look Like
Due to the nature of adolescence, most teens have some dissatisfaction with how they look, which can make it difficult to recognize the signs of body dysmorphia. But while every teen is different, there are some common signs and symptoms of BDD that you can look out for, such as:
Obsession With Perceived Flaws
One of the common body dysmorphia symptoms is an obsession and fixation on one or more parts of appearance that teens believe are flawed. Typically, the focus is on skin, hair, face, chest, and stomach.[4] These concerns can feel overwhelming and constant to a teen, even if others don’t notice anything unusual. What might seem like a small detail to someone else can feel all-consuming to them.
Repetitive Behaviors and Mental Checking
You might notice your teen spending a lot of time checking themselves in the mirror or avoiding mirrors altogether. They might also engage in frequent grooming or skin picking, or constantly compare themselves to others online or in person. Your teen may also constantly ask you or others whether they look okay, yet they often do not believe it when you (or others) tell them they look fine.
Avoidance and Hiding
Your teen may start to withdraw or avoid activities because of their increasing self-consciousness. For instance, they might avoid being in photos or skip social events. You might also notice them hiding parts of themselves under large clothing, hats, or makeup.
Not every teen will show all of these signs. However, noticing a combination of these behaviors can help you better understand what your child may be going through and when it may be time to get help.
What Causes Body Dysmorphia in Teens?
When your teen is finding it hard to cope, it’s natural to wonder what happened and what the reasons are. But like most psychiatric disorders, the causes of BDD are complex, and it usually develops through a combination of factors, such as:
- Negative life experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or teasing, especially around appearance.[5]
- Being in an environment with high expectations of beauty.
- Personality traits, like perfectionism.[6]
- Brain and biological differences, such as abnormalities in the way visual information is processed.[7]
- Having a close, blood-related family member with BDD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or another related condition.[8]
When you can understand what influences body dysmorphia in teens, you can shift away from blame and focus on support.
How Body Dysmorphia Affects Teen Mental Health
BDD can severely impact your teen’s mental health. For instance, we know that the majority of teens with body dysmorphic disorder often cope with other mental health issues. Two of the most common mental health conditions that teens with BDD experience are anxiety and depression. In fact, studies show that 58.7% of teens with BDD experience anxiety, and 31.7% of them experience depression.[9]
Your teen might experience more depression and anxiety because they’re constantly worrying about how they look, how others perceive them, or whether their “flaws” are being noticed. This can make situations like going to school or spending time with friends feel overwhelming.
Another large concern is the higher rates of self-harm and suicidal thoughts that teens with BDD experience. The studies show that 46% of young people with BDD reported a lifetime history of self-harm or suicide attempts, compared with 8% of those without BDD.[9] This may be because, when your teen’s self-worth is tied to their appearance, it can lead to them feeling ashamed and hopeless. As a result, they may start to isolate and feel disconnected from others.
Body dysmorphia also overlaps with eating disorders in teens. Research has shown that among people with anorexia nervosa, 25–39% are diagnosed with lifetime BDD, and 32% of those with BDD have a lifetime eating disorder.[10] This is especially true if your teen is highly concerned with their weight and body shape.
The earlier these patterns are recognized, the easier it is to interrupt the cycle. With the right support, your teen can begin to separate their identity from their appearance.
Body Dysmorphia Treatment Options for Teens
If your teen is dealing with body dysmorphia symptoms, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Some effective body dysmorphia treatments include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most common therapies used to treat body dysmorphic disorder in adolescents. This approach can help your teen recognize the thoughts that are causing them to feel negatively about themselves and are contributing to their behaviors.[11] They’ll slowly learn how to challenge and reframe these negative thoughts so their perceived flaws feel less intense and their self-image improves.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a type of CBT with research to show that it is effective in improving avoidance and reducing symptoms of BDD.[12] This approach can help your teen face fears and situations that they avoid, like looking in the mirror or attending social events, without relying on their compulsive behaviors like excessive checking and reassurance seeking. With guidance, teens can build tolerance to discomfort and develop healthier responses.
Mindfulness-Based Techniques
Mindfulness-based approaches, like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, can help your teen learn how to sit with their discomfort and notice negative thoughts without immediately reacting to them. Instead of getting caught in a spiral of self-judgment, they can learn to notice what’s happening in their mind and body with more awareness and less pressure to “fix” it. These tools can support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety over time.[13]
How You Can Support a Teen With Body Dysmorphia
Watching your teen find it hard to cope with their self-image can feel heartbreaking, and it’s not always clear what to say or do in the moment. While you can’t “fix” how your teen sees themselves overnight, your response plays a powerful role in how supported and understood they feel. The following tips may help you understand what to do and what not to do.
What Helps
One of the most important things you can offer is a calm, non-judgmental presence. If your teen opens up about how they feel, try to listen without immediately correcting or reassuring. Saying things like, “That sounds really hard,” or “I’m glad you told me,” can go further than trying to convince them their concerns aren’t real.
What to Avoid
It’s completely natural to want to reassure your teen by saying, “You look fine” or “There’s nothing wrong with you.” But for teens experiencing body dysmorphia symptoms, this kind of reassurance often doesn’t stick and can sometimes lead to repeated reassurance-seeking cycles.
Minimizing their feelings or pushing them to “just stop worrying about it” can also create distance. Even if their concerns don’t match what you see, the distress they’re feeling is very real.
You don’t have to have all the answers before taking that step. Simply recognizing that your teen may need more support and being willing to help them access it is already a powerful act of care.
Supporting Your Teen’s Relationship With Their Self-Image at Mission Prep
When your teen is finding it hard to cope with how they see themselves, it impacts so much more than just their appearance. It can shape their confidence, relationships, and their sense of identity. At Mission Prep, our treatment, including residential, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs, focuses specifically on adolescents. And while we don’t treat eating disorders, we do treat underlying conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues, to help teens better manage their mental health.
Through a combination of evidence-based therapies, family therapy, and experiential approaches, your teen can learn how to challenge their distorted thoughts, manage anxiety, and reconnect with who they are beyond their appearance. We also work closely with families, offering guidance and support so you feel more confident managing these challenges at home.
If your teen is dealing with body dysmorphia symptoms and other mental health impacts because of it, contact Mission Prep today. With the right support, your teen can begin to feel more at ease in both their body and their life.
FAQs About Body Dysmorphia in Teens
It’s normal to still have questions when you’re trying to understand what your teen is going through. Below are some of the most common concerns parents have about body dysmorphia in teens, and answers to these concerns.
Is It Normal for Teenagers to Have Body Dysmorphia?
Experts show that the likelihood of body dysmorphic disorder is pretty low, at around 3%. However, it is most common among teenagers and young adults, and typically begins around 12 to 13 years old.[14] But it is absolutely normal for teens to have insecurities about their appearance. It’s only when these typical insecurities become obsessive and overly distressing that it may be more than a passing phase.
What Are 5 Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Five symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder might include a constant preoccupation or obsession with what your teen perceives as flaws in their appearance. They might also engage in repetitive behaviors like checking themselves in the mirror or excessive grooming. Other symptoms include avoiding social situations or having their picture taken, constantly comparing themselves to others, and significant distress.
Do People With Body Dysmorphia See Their Faces Differently?
Yes, people with body dysmorphia can see their faces differently, especially if they have abnormalities in visual processing. Often, though, it’s not about seeing their face “differently,” but instead they fixate on minute details. For example, they might focus on a small blemish or how the corner of their left eye sits lower, rather than viewing the face as a whole.
How Can Mission Prep Help My Teen With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Through evidence-based therapies like CBT and mindfulness-based approaches, we can help your teen understand the distorted thoughts around their image and how to manage the distressing feelings that come with these. We also specialize in addressing the coexisting mental health conditions that often occur with BDD, such as depression and anxiety. Our focus is on helping your teen reduce obsessive thoughts, improve self-esteem, and develop healthier coping strategies.
