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    Acne & spots

    • The worst ages for spots are 16–18 years for women and 18–19 years for men, but people of any age can get them
    • Acne was more severe in teenagers 20 years ago than it is now
    • More people in their 20s and 30s seem to have acne these days
    • At 40 years of age, 5 women in 100 and 1 man in 100 have acne
    • The ancient Egyptians relied on a spot cream made from bullocks’ bile, ostrich egg, olive oil, salt and plant resin, mixed to a paste with flour and milk
    • Americans spend $100 million a year buying acne treatments

    What is a spot?
    The skin contains millions of sebaceous glands that secrete a grease (sebum), through the skin pores onto the surface of the skin. Normally sebum simply helps to keep the skin healthy. A spot forms when a pore becomes blocked by a plug of dead skin cells mixed with sebum. This tends to happen when the sebaceous gland produces more sebum than usual.
    • A whitehead is a skin pore that is blocked by a plug deep down.
    • A blackhead is a pore that has become plugged at its opening. The black colour is a build-up of the normal skin pigments from dead cells (the same pigment that is responsible for a suntan) – it is not dirt.
    The bacteria that normally live on the surface of the skin move into the blocked pore. This can result in pus formation, leading to yellow spots, redness and inflammation. In some people, these inflamed spots can become large and lumpy.

    In the future. A lot of the ongoing research into acne is focusing on the bacteria that cause the inflammation. One possibility is to use viruses to kill the bacteria; a virus commonly founds on human skin (a type of bacteriophage) can damage acne-producing bacteria and could be used as a treatment in the future. Other researchers have looked at the genetic code of the bacteria and found the genes responsible for producing enzymes that break down the skin, and the next step is to find a therapy against these enzymes.

    What is the difference between spots and acne?
    There is no real difference, it is just a matter of quantity. If you have a few, they are usually referred to as ‘spots’, ‘pimples’ or ‘zits’. But if you have quite a lot of whiteheads, blackheads or angry-looking inflamed spots, it is referred to as acne.

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    Comments on this article:

    Posted by Annoymous at 20/06/2009 16:49:00

    Hello im 14 years old and am female.
    i dont havea lot of spots on my cheeks or forehead etc.. but have so many on my nose, big ones aswell like pimples. there horrible i often cry and pray for them to go away because i cannot focus on anything else and my grades at school are gradually slipping. please help me
    toothpaste DOES NOT work for me, any other responses?

    Posted by ELC at 03/06/2009 01:22:00

    well.. got my first pimple at age 9 ever since then everything seemed to go downhill, i had severe acne from the ages 12-15 covering around 50% of my body, i didn't like going out anywhere, i wouldn't swim without wearing a t-shirt, basically my skin was always covered.along with this problem came severe depression and all this because i didn't want anyone looking at me. So i decided to go to the doctors who prescribed me benzil peroxide *not sure on spelling*, i tried the 10% version first which dried my skin out so much i was in alot of pain and had to pile on the moisturiser which made my skin more oily therefore making me have more pimples, so went down to 5% which seemed to work alot better. When i was about 16, going out late, sleeping over places, it was hard to keep remembering to use my cream, but then i just started eating differently. I changed my diet started drinking mainly water and reducing my fat and sugar intake which seemed to help alot. i still get the odd pimple and mainly around when im due for my period, but i dont think about it too much ive learnt that its not the worst thing in the world if you dont have perfect skin, people should accept you for who you are regardless of how you look.

    Posted by lodgey at 01/06/2009 21:44:00

    go to the doctors i had it really bad but they gave me some tablets to take then some cream it is quality there nerly all gone in less than 2 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by polly at 03/05/2009 23:30:00

    i have red like small spots only 3 at the top of my leg i thought it was caused by shaving but a friend told me it could be caurse by maybe using damp towels and told take a long time to go

    Posted by sarah at 29/04/2009 17:00:00

    Hey.

    I have a spot on my nose. just on the top and its so embarrasing because when ever i speak to people, they see it straight away. I've tried so many things now and its riduclous as its not going away. its really really fat. i need help so much, so please do me favour? i'll respect it very much

    thankyou.

    Posted by WiseGuy at 15/04/2009 11:23:00

    try the new oxy spose to be specially designed for male users.

    i started 3-4 days ago

    seems to be doing a better job than the many other produces i've used.

    Posted by L at 14/04/2009 15:46:00

    Had my first spot at 13! Had acne through school, tried EVERYTHING including acupuncture and herbal remedies! Finally had the pill, dianette which was wonderful (although it got severely worse before it got better), then stayed on the pill (Cilest) for 8 years with perfect skin (it was very rare to get a spot!) I came off the pill at age 25 and they all came back...
    Went to a dermatologist and I'm currently on week 11 of Isotretinoin (Roaccutane), its clearing up, got three spots left that are hard and lumpy under the skin and won't go away (yet), and a lot of scars cos I'm naughty and pick them, but I think they will fade after I finish treatment as Roaccutane makes your skin very sensitive and quite red.
    I recommend Dermalogica facials, as I have had them for about 10 years now and when I was on the pill I had no scars at all.
    My aim is to be completely pill free and spot free... I am getting there, slowly!
    Good luck everyone - there are ways to beautiful skin!

    Posted by Ben at 14/04/2009 02:05:00

    Hey, ive had spots since i was in yr6 and now im in yr9, quite along time i know and now ive started drinking more water and stopped eating as much greasy/fatty foods and more fruit and it helps alot and its more healthy to, plus its probably cheaper than buying creams yourself but if your gettin prescribed creams from your doctor may help but in my experience water and less fatty foods is helping me more. hope this helps :)

    Posted by Liam at 12/04/2009 17:48:00

    I got spots three years ago and i have still got them, the doctor has given be Tetrasyl but it still does nothing for me i have had them fo to long now and i am getting very sick of them. But i now realise there is nothing that will work so i just ignore it or ware make up which is not easy for a guy to wear.

    Posted by Tom at 09/04/2009 19:33:00

    Hi I'm 14 from London (Male) I've sufferd from Acne FOR AGES! I went to my doctor told her how is was making me feel (I had SEVERE ACNE) and she refferd me to the hospital dermatologist clinic. And I got tablets the only thing is it DRYS YOUR SKIN REALLY BADLY HAIR AND LIPS BUT I RECCOMEND YOU ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO REFER YOU TO THE HOSPITAL DERMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT..

    Hope it helped? LMAO

    Posted by Liam at 23/03/2009 17:44:00

    Hi, i am 17 and i have had spots/acne for 2 years now and i really can't get rid of them. I have been given antibiotics from the DR and have been on them for nearly 2 months now and still no developments. any help or advise? i get really upset about this.

    Posted by Anonymous at 21/03/2009 22:42:00

    Heya!! i used 2 get reli bad spots, i finally got enough courage up 2 go 2 a dr, she gave me this cream callrd duac and although it takes along time (a month?) to work, it is amazing once it does, i would really recomend itxxxxx

    Posted by S at 19/03/2009 20:22:00

    i have spots "/ i have been to the doctor about it & he gave me Co-Panoxyl & some tablets. it DOES work, but the things is, i get out the shower & put it on then sleep, then in the morning for school i was it off, moisturise but then put make up on them, because even though the size of the spots reduced, its still big, so i cover it with make-up. theyre mainly on my chin "/ i think in the summer holidays im just guna wear no make up & let the sun get to my face. dya think itl work?

    x

    Posted by mehh at 15/03/2009 17:42:00

    heyarr well im a 15 year old girl yeah nd i dnt tend t sufeer from spots but i hav al of a sudden come owt in a hell of alot of spots nd it made me not wnt any one to see me

    this seems weired but bein a teenager you tend to do anything t get rid of them so in put egg white on my spots because i remeber bein 13 and me and my alder sister used egg white t clense are faces so i just fort its worth a go ant it funnly enuf work lol i could c straight away tht they was clearing up but this was after i hav scrubbed my face a number of times and then the nxt day my face did av as maney spots and the ones lleft was very small
    nd i felt betta nd was not boverd about goin owt so i duna but this is cummin from a teenaged girlwho is not the biggiest fan of spots

    lov meh !!"Ox

    Posted by Anonymous at 10/03/2009 20:45:00

    i have tried everything!!:|
    creams, gels, tablets, and i've been to the doctors way to many times about it. i have LOADS of spots and it's so embarrising! :(

    Posted by Saba razzak at 09/03/2009 07:17:00

    how can we remove them and specially the squeeze part?

    Posted by Gabby at 03/03/2009 16:37:00

    I started getting spots when i was 10 and i still have them now . I get really self-concious :/ i HATE them !! I have loads !!! They really annoy me .
    I have tiried many things , but most of them dont seem to worn :(
    I am on antibiotics now that the doctor gave me .
    I have to drink the tablet for 3 months :( it does seem to work but not quick enough :(

    Posted by hello123 at 02/03/2009 15:22:00

    I used a product years ago called 'Co-Panoxyl' and found it fantastic. I plastered it on my chin because I had no less than about 40 spots both big and small. It removed a layer or 2 of skin and had to keep the area well moisturised but they all went!! Toothpaste is great for emergencies, the paste not gel is better!

    Posted by Anonymous at 21/02/2009 08:38:00

    Clearasil Ultra works for me. Still get the occassional spot, but Clearsil gets rid of them faster than normal and stops most of them. Be careful when you start to use it, it is quite strong. A good moisturiser helps, look for one that is part of a brand like clearasil or Boots own brand clear skin range as these are designed not to block pores.

    Posted by Lozovic at 17/02/2009 14:07:00

    Guys try CLEARSIL works perfectly! used to have loads of spots, now significantly reduced in a month

    Posted by sammy at 10/02/2009 18:21:00

    i started getting my spots at the age of 11 and i am now 17 i have tryed everything that there is from spot cream,tablets to moisturizer is there anything that will get rid of these spots? can anyone help

    Posted by xxxx at 03/02/2009 22:20:00

    i have a good knowledge of skin as a beauty therapist. using soap on your skin is the worse thing you can do the key is a good moisturizer.if you have an oily skin type you need to moisturise morning and night.this is becouse the skin creates more oil than a normal skin type by applying moisturiser this stops the oil production.i would reccomed dermologica products can be brought from most salons. also use a cleanser morning and night. for oily skin types ask for ultra-calming cleanser and active moist moisturiser.steam your face once a week too!and ALWAYS remove make-up before bed x

    Posted by Anonymous at 29/01/2009 10:28:00

    I have always suffered from spots, but quickly get rid of them using 'Oxy' wipes/pads and cream from chemist (I think its hydrogen poroxide based), washing 3 times in stead of 2 (I always use dove soap) using a flannel and decent towel for exfoliation (the oxy wipes also help with that) but never too rough! Eat lots fruit/veg when spots come, have more sleep - always helps.

    Posted by Anonymous at 27/01/2009 19:21:00

    For Acne-Matress

    My 15-year-old daughter was getting really bad acne. A trip to the GP resulted in an anti-biotic prescription which cleared them up in a few weeks. You need to keep on the anti-biotics for a while, but they really work well. And if you're under 16 the prescription is free (if you're in the UK)

    Posted by emma at 23/01/2009 14:37:00

    hii :)
    i had really bad skin for a long time until i read an article in my magazine about acne and spots the girl had gone on a contraseptive pill called dianette thats when i decided to try it.
    i took it for a couple months and was very paitient now im spot free i would really recomend it x

    Posted by Acne-Matress at 04/01/2009 18:19:00

    At school i get badly bullied for how i look, the kids stopped it now but my spots are probably NEVER going to go away.. My mum probably spent hundreds of pounds of spot products. NONE OF THEM WORK! Is there any simple reciepe thats fast working and gets rid of spots once and for all? PLEASE help!

    Posted by Anonymous at 03/01/2009 14:08:00

    In response to the lady who asked about creams etc recently I have found some products that worked great for me and some of my friends have used since my acne has cleared up. I bought a kit from http://www.tepezcohuite.co.uk I hope this helps

    Posted by Rima perveen at 02/01/2009 10:14:00

    I am suffering from acne from last six-seven months. from Last two months i am under treatment of a skin specialist.He suggested me to take Tab. Tetracycline 500mg and Erythromycin lotion 3% (for Topical Use). Now quite improvement of acne. But the spot are not vanishing. Can u give me any suggestion about this.

    Thanks.

    Posted by Littleminx at 31/12/2008 15:36:00

    Hi i keep getting spots which i have never suffererd with before seem to be getting 3 and 4 together and they are sore and red.What can i do to prevent this any creams or something.i really want get rid of them. please help

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