肌荒れ

• Reading: はだあれ
• Romaji: hada are
• Kanji breakdown: 肌 (skin, complexion) + 荒れ (roughness, from 荒れる = to become rough/wild) → rough/troubled skin
• Pronunciation: /ha.da.a.ɾe/

Meaning

Skin breakout or rough skin; a condition where the skin becomes irritated, bumpy, dry, or inflamed.

肌荒れ is a constant concern in Japanese beauty culture, where smooth, clear skin is highly prized. It covers a range of skin issues from dryness and redness to breakouts and rough texture. Causes are frequently attributed to stress, diet, lack of sleep, seasonal changes, and hormonal fluctuations. Discussing 肌荒れ is completely normal in everyday conversation, and combating it drives a massive skincare and supplement market.

Examples

1. ストレスのせいか最近肌荒れがひどい。 Maybe it's from stress, but my skin has been breaking out badly lately.
2. 肌荒れにはビタミンCのサプリが効くって聞いた。 I heard vitamin C supplements work well for skin breakouts.
3. 季節の変わり目って肌荒れしやすいよね。 Your skin tends to act up when the seasons change, right?

Usage Guide

Context: beauty, daily conversation, social media

Tone: concerned, relatable

Do Say

• 肌荒れひどいから今日はメイク薄めにする。 (My skin is breaking out badly so I'm going light on makeup today.)
• 肌荒れには睡眠が一番大事だよ。 (For skin troubles, sleep is the most important thing.)

Don't Say

• 人の肌荒れを指摘する — 本人は十分気にしている (Don't point out someone's skin breakout — they're already well aware of it)

Common Mistakes

• Using 肌荒れ only for acne — it covers a broader range of skin issues including dryness, redness, rough texture, and irritation

Origin & History

Compound of 肌 (skin) + 荒れ (roughness, becoming rough; from 荒れる). A long-standing Japanese term that is central to the nation's obsession with clear, smooth skin.

Cultural Context

Era: Long-standing term, always relevant

Generation: All ages, especially beauty-conscious individuals

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Skin quality is arguably the most important beauty metric in Japanese culture, making 肌荒れ a universally understood concern.