{"id":22937,"date":"2022-03-06T00:02:26","date_gmt":"2022-03-06T08:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edelalon.com\/blog\/?p=22937"},"modified":"2025-07-10T16:33:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T23:33:16","slug":"zoom-filters-body-dysmorphic-disorder-self-image-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edelalon.com\/blog\/2022\/03\/zoom-filters-body-dysmorphic-disorder-self-image-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoom, Filters & Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Self-Image During the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

A little over two years ago, before the pandemic upended normal life, the majority of meetings were held face-to-face, and classes and social events took place \u201cIRL,\u201d or in real life. Then, COVID-19 hit, and daily life was forced to retreat into the virtual realm. So much so, in fact, that video conferencing companies, like Zoom, saw sales increases of over 300% compared to years prior to the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following lockdown, as businesses slowly began to reopen, dermatologists and plastic surgeons started noticing a worrisome trend: a substantial uptick in demand for cosmetic procedures, especially so-called minimally invasive treatments, like dermal fillers and Botox, but also nose jobs and facelifts. The main reason behind this sharp increase? More and more people grew unhappy with their appearance since using video conferencing during the pandemic. And, just like that, the term Zoom Dysmorphia was born.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoom dysmorphia: Do I really look like that?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unlike Snapchat or Instagram filters, which are designed to edit or enhance your facial features, the front-facing camera on your computer is not really designed to make you look beautiful or flawless during video calls. In fact, it\u2019s quite the opposite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A\u00a0<\/span>2018 study\u00a0<\/span><\/a>published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people\u2019s noses can look up to 30% larger in photos taken from 12 inches away (selfie-length), compared to pictures taken at a standard portrait distance, about 5 feet or so. The unfortunate combination of\u00a0<\/span>poor lighting<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and wonky angles (most of us stare down at our computers) can also create the illusion of under-eye circles and a flatter face, highlight expression lines and wrinkles, and bring the dreaded \u201cdouble chin\u201d front and center.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, some people develop a disproportionate preoccupation with the physical features they perceive as flawed or unattractive. And unfortunately, this kind of<\/span>\u00a0extreme self-criticism<\/span><\/a>\u00a0can trigger a form of body dysmorphic disorder that pushes them to seek cosmetic interventions to alter their appearance and experience severe bouts of social anxiety.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is body dysmorphic disorder?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or simply body dysmorphia, is a mental health disorder that causes people to become intensely fixated on perceived physical flaws or imperfections. If you have this illness, you may feel so worried or ashamed of defects in your appearance that it keeps you from living a normal life. The severity of BDD varies, but it almost always causes extreme anxiety. Its most common symptoms include:<\/span><\/p>\n