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STILL GETTING PIMPLES BUT YEARS PAST PUBERTY? READ OUR GUIDE TO SORTING OUT YOUR SKIN

Once you’ve waved your teenage years goodbye, you hope that’s the end of spots too.

But a growing number of women are finding that acne follows them into adulthood.

Karin Karian, now 40, had to cope with facial acne throughout her 30s.

“Being a spotty teenager was miserable,” says Karin, a singer.

“The spots made me so self-conscious and I hated people looking at me.

"But nothing’s worse than getting acne as an adult.

"Most people have pimples in puberty, but trying to date and work with a face full of spots is a nightmare.

"It held back my career and my relationships.”

Karin is not alone.

Even supermodel Kate Moss, 34, has been papped looking pimply, and according to research by the British Association Of Dermatologists, the average age for the onset of female acne is now 26 and rising.

“We’re seeing an increase in the number of adults seeking treatment for acne,” says Dr Susan Mayou, consultant dermatologist at London’s leading surgical clinic, The Cadogan.

“Research shows that stress is largely to blame.

"It compromises the immune system, making the body less able to fight bacterial infections, including those on the face.”

Environmental issues may also play a role.

“A dirty and polluted atmosphere can make spots and acne worse, and more women are being exposed to these irritants in the big cities,” explains Dr David Orentriech, a dermatologist at Clinique.

So with more women suffering, it’s small wonder sales of spot-fighting skincare treatments are going through the roof.

“We’re seeing a massive rise in sales of products designed for blemished teen skin,” says Ellie Sparrow, Superdrug’s skincare buyer.

“But it’s not teens who are buying them – it’s the over 20s.”

The trouble is, these products aren’t designed for ageing skin.

“They tend to make adult skin overdry, so it overcompensates by increasing its oil levels,” says Dr Mayou.

“And that only makes spots worse.”

Fortunately, there are plenty of new dermatologist-developed products that are suitable for treating adult skin.

We’ve found five of the best grown-up spot solutions...

 

ADULT ACNE ZAPPER

MARVELLOUS MASK

The product: Dermaquest Skin Therapy Acne TX Mask, £33, contains benzoyl peroxide, an antibacterial ingredient that mops up excess oil and removes the top layer of skin, making it harder for pores to become blocked and infected.
The proof: Approved by dermatologists as the first port of call for the treatment of acne.

 

EXFOLIATION

The product: Neutrogena Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash, £3.99, contains salicylic acid, a mild acid derived from willow tree bark. It removes dead skin cells and helps to unblock pores.
The proof: The acid was tested as an acne ‘face peel’ under medical supervision and it was found to be very effective for severe spots.

 

PEEL AND REVEAL

The product: MD Formulations My Personal Peel System, £49.95, is a weekly three-step system that uses glycolic acid to exfoliate dead cells and resurface the skin.
The proof: Studies have shown that glycolic acid can successfully reduce acne and improve the appearance of skin within two weeks.

 

LIGHT FANTASTIC

The product: N-Lite-V is a 30-minute laser light treatment, from £150, that kills the bacteria on the skin that cause acne.
The proof: America’s Federal Food And Drug Administration found that 87 per cent of patients’ skin improved after just one treatment.

 

SKIN SUPPLEMENTS

The product: Face To Face capsules, £7.95 for 24, from Superdrug. They contain lactoferrin, a protein derived from milk that has an antibacterial action and helps to reduce redness and irritation.
The proof: A recent consumer trial found that spots decreased by 60 per cent after eight weeks, and 76 per cent after 12 weeks of taking the capsules.

 

WIN BEAUTY GOODIES

Win 25 Neutrogena Visibly Clear Gentle Exfoliating Wash
This promises to remove dead skin cells and helps to unblock pores to help you get clear skin.

We now have 25 of the washes to giveaway! To enter, just click here and send us your details.

Usual Fabulous terms and conditions apply.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Win 20 Face To Face capsules
Help your face heal with these great Face to Face capsules. They contain Lactoferrin to help reduce redness and irritation.

We now have 20 of the capsules to giveaway! To enter, just click here and leave your details.

Usual Fabulous terms and conditions apply.

COMPETITION CLOSED

 

 

Stockists: Courthouse Clinics (courthouseclinics.com), Cobella (cobella.co.uk), No! No! (selfridges.com), No Scream Cream (Coutureprofessionalbeauty.com), Princereigns (seasonaltrends.co.uk), Strip (2strip.com), Tria (Tria.co.uk), Wax Away (waxaway.net), Wilkinson Sword (Available nationwide), Ysx (Lifes2good.co.uk)

Words: Cara Ellen; Photography: Camerapress, Retna, Studio21photo.com