Acne In The Spotlight

I’m talking about skin. Skin is an organ which protects our body from damage but for some of us it acts as a barrier to our confidence.

For some celebrities, their skin distinguishes them. Take Seal for example, with the distinctive scars on his face; or Morgan Freeman, a well recognised face with dark skin lesions over his cheeks. However, we are otherwise surrounded by images of celebrities like Halle Berry and Beyonce with flawless, golden, shimmering skin. These images are plastered all over the T.V and magazines, but the reality is that what we see when we are stood in front of the mirror at home is far from perfect. We all suffer with dark circles under the eyes, blotches and blemishes, hair in places it shouldn’t be but spots can be both physically and psychologically scarring.Acne is a common skin condition and although typically we tend to think of ‘spotty’ teenagers, people over the age of 25 are also affected.

The surface of the skin is covered with lots of little tiny holes called pores. Small sebaceous glands just underneath the surface of the skin produces the oil or sebum. Acne develops when these pores become clogged up, creating the appearance of black heads and white heads. The sebum becomes trapped under the surface of the skin causing pimples and papules. Most of us get these types of spots every now and again and they normally disappear after a few days. However in more severe cases of acne, the blocked sebum becomes infected causing big red spots to develop. These spots fill up with pus and can be unsightly and painful. It is these inflamed spots that can then cause lasting scars and pits.

Skin is part of our body image. It affects how we feel and how others perceive us.

Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Cameron Diaz are often talked about in the media as suffering with acne. But for those of us who don’t have our own personal make-up artist on stand-by 24-7, acne can be a real problem and in its more severe forms it can have a significant impact on our body image and self-confidence. This is made worse by the stigma attached to acne as people seem to think it’s caused by having dirty skin. Here are a few myth-busters to get you in the know about your skin.

There are lots of treatments available for acne and getting treatment early can help prevent scars, some of these you can buy over the counter (OTC). If you’re worried about your skin or have tried OTC creams and found these haven’t helped then visit your GP for further advice, they may prescribe creams containing azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics creams and tablets, or ‘the pill’ (hormone tablet). If you have severe acne, your GP may decide to refer you to a skin specialist, called a Dermatologist for more specialist treatments.

A few spots here and there are nothing to worry about but if you are concerned about your skin and are ready to face up to the problem (pardon the pun!) then remember you are not alone, acne is a common skin condition and there are treatments available. In the mean-time remember that it’s unrealistic to want a celeb-complexion and its what’s on the inside that counts!