Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma
Physical appearance can be a sore subject, especially for women. Junior high and high school are particularly difficult times for teens. The social pressures of looking a certain way and battling acne are all a recipe for anxiety and destructive thoughts. No matter how silly it seems, it’s okay to pray for clear skin.
Social media exacerbates the pressures to look perfect constantly. Even though pictures are most likely edited people can quickly berate themselves for not looking as beautiful as others. Don’t get me wrong, it’s okay to want clear skin, but it shouldn’t become an obsessive matter in our lives.
The book of Proverbs says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30, NIV). What’s important is knowing and loving the Lord and living a life to honor Him.
This is easier said than done. It’s hard not to focus on our physical beauty. After having 3 babies in 3.5 years I find myself trying to hide my body because I’m no longer the teeny tiny long distance runner I once was.
When you’re struggling with any kind of body image issue, you should focus on finding yourself as a beloved child of God. He created us in His image. He created us the way He desired because He knew how beautiful we would be that way and that way alone.
Why is this so simple yet so hard for us to believe? Why don’t we see that we are worthy of His love? Why do we feel like we have to define ourselves by our exterior looks?
We were all created for a unique and individual purpose. God has placed you in these circumstances to honor Him in a way no one else can. You are living the life God chose for you, the life He chose for you before you were born. When we can finally see ourselves, first and foremost, as His daughter/son, we will have no trouble accepting that we are beautiful on the outside too.
I have given you 6 prayers for clear skin, but feel free to customize them to your specific situation! Please leave any prayer requests in the comments so we can pray with you!
Short Prayer for Clear Skin
Lord, I am struggling with getting my skin cleared up. I feel gross all the time because of my terrible skin. Please heal me and clear my skin. In the meantime, help me to know that I am not defined by my skin. I am defined by my identity in You. You love me no matter what I look like. Instill that in my heart. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Clearing Up Acne
Lord, I am struggling with bad acne. I’m embarrassed to even bring this up to You, but I know that you crave to know every part of each and every one of us. So…here I am. Please clear up my skin of this gross acne.
Please help me to find the right face wash to help me get this acne under control. I’ve tried so many different kinds and nothing seems to be helping, if anything it’s getting worse.
Why do I have to have such gross oily skin? Why couldn’t I be normal like all the other (girls/boys) with clear flawless skin? I know I’m just self conscious about myself. I’m sorry, Lord, for being so self deprecating and envious of others.
Help me to remember how much I am loved by You for who I am and not what I look like. Help me to remember these words, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV).
You created me for a purpose. I don’t know what that purpose is exactly, but I know You know. Help me to clearly hear Your voice as I continue to walk the path that you want for me.
Prayer for Son/Daughter to Have Clear Skin
Lord, my (son/daughter) is having a hard time with their appearance. They have (acne/eczema/rosacea/etc.) and I know it is affecting how (he/she) sees (himself/herself). Please Lord help us to find the right face wash or ointment to help clear it up.
I know (he/she) is lacking confidence and I think a large part of it is due to (his/her) skin troubles. Help (name) to know that it doesn’t matter what (he/she) looks like. (Name) is such a bright light who shines in the darkness of this world. Help (him/her) to know that their identity as a child of God is what is most important.
(Name) is enough no matter what (he/she) looks like. Give me the right words to communicate this with (name). May You work through my words and actions as (name) works through this difficult time in (his/her) life. Thank you for giving me the gift of being a parent. I’m grateful for this opportunity to be your face, hands, and feet for my child. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for a Rash
Good and gracious God please bestow upon me Your abundant graces as I try to figure out why I am having this rash. My doctor thinks it’s an allergic reaction, but we don’t know what I’m allergic to. I’m getting a workup done but won’t know the results for a while.
Please help this work up to provide answers. I’m tired of this awful rash all over my skin. Please help me to be patient as I wait for answers. Use this time to teach me to grow in virtue. May my heart be open and attentive to the ways You are calling me to grow during this time.
Lord, please clear up my skin. Jesus healed people over and over again in the Scriptures so I know if you are willing You will heal me too. You are the ultimate healer so please help me to know what to do to be healed completely of this rash. I know prayers aren’t always answered the way I want them to be, but I trust whatever happens is Your will.
In the meantime, help me to find purpose in this suffering. I know this suffering is an opportunity to glorify You. Your Son suffered so greatly, physically and emotionally. This rash is just a small piece compared to His sufferings. Thank you for His example of holy suffering. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Eczema
O God, I have this awful dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. The dermatologist tells me it’s eczema and will probably be long lasting. It’s so irritating. I just feel uncomfortable all the time. I guess I can just be thankful that I am not contagious like the lepers I read about so frequently in Scripture.
“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy” (Matthew 8:2-3, NIV).
Now I know eczema isn’t as severe as leprosy. Thank goodness this dry skin can’t be passed to someone else, but leprosy affects the skin just like my eczema does. I feel for this man with leprosy. I just want my skin to be clean so Lord, if you are willing, make me clean too. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer for Rosacea
Ugh, Lord, I look a mess! I woke up thinking I had some awful acne. I tried my fast acting acne remover only to find myself staring at a puffy and bumpy red face. My face looks chronically flushed all around my cheeks, nose, and forehead. It even burns a little bit too!
I hit a wall when I realized my eyes and eyelids were swelling too. I saw a dermatologist and they told me that I have a skin condition called rosacea. I’m so grateful to have answers to what I just thought was simple acne.
Thank you, God, for giving me answers to my skin condition. I do pray that you will heal me completely of this affliction. In the meantime, I am thankful that I got the proper cream for my face. I’m hoping this works so I won’t have to resort to antibiotics or laser therapy. Help me to remember to take good care of my skin at all times. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Concluding Thoughts
One of my favorite songs is Beloved by Tenth Avenue North. Part of the chorus goes like this:
You’re my beloved
Lover I’m yours
Death shall not part us
It’s you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we’ll be
My Love it unites us
It binds you to Me
It’s a mystery
If you or someone you love is struggling with clear skin draw upon the lyrics of this song. It’s okay to want clear skin, but always remember that Jesus loves you just the way you are. Jesus loves you so much that He unjustly died for you. You are His beloved, and if your skin is not healed here on Earth, it will be in Heaven.