'You can end the stress for spots with a fast and efficient cure for acne'

Acne affects ­adolescents most often but it is not uncommon in adults and can occur in children too. If it suddenly appears in adult women, it can be sign of a hormonal ­imbalance

I used to run an acne clinic and my patients were often surprised when I told them their condition was ­curable. With all the latest ­approaches and medications, most acne can be tempered – but most problem acne should be assessed by a specialist ­dermatologist first.

Acne is the eighth most common condition ­globally, with more than 70,000 patients being referred for specialist care in the UK each year.

While it affects ­adolescents most often, it isn’t uncommon in adults and can occur in children too. If it suddenly appears in adult women, it can be sign of a hormonal ­imbalance.

Severe acne can lead to scarring and cause psychological distress, so it is always best to get help. And Jingyuan Xu, a dermatologist at University College London has some advice.

For mild to moderate acne, with its characteristic blackheads and ­pus-filled spots, first-line treatments would include combination products like tretinoin cream combined with clindamycin, an antibiotic.

If acne is moderate to severe, options include the same skin ­treatment, plus the addition of an antibiotic tablet, either oral ­lymecycline or doxycycline. If it fails to respond to a 12-week course of ­treatment that includes an antibiotic, or if mild to moderate acne does not respond to two different 12-week courses, it’s time to see a dermatologist.

But people with acne can do a lot for themselves, such as using a slightly acidic detergent to cleanse the skin twice a day. They should avoid ­oil-based skincare products – and make sure make-up is removed at the end of the day. Picking or scratching spots is a no-no because it increases the risk of scarring.

In my clinics I saw the distress acne causes, especially the scarring, which increases with the severity and ­duration. Anyone feeling this level of upset should be seen by a specialist.

There are some extremely severe forms which should be seen as soon as possible and most hospitals have a dermatology team with this in mind.

Options also include physical ­treatments, such as light devices, and specific treatment for acne scarring.

If the condition is resistant to standard therapy with oral antibiotics and there is a risk of permanent ­scarring, then isotretinoin capsules can be considered.

Where scarring is severe and persists a year after acne has cleared, a consultant dermatologist-led team with expertise in scar management should take over.

CO2 laser treatment or glycolic acid skin peel can be considered – so you do not have to live with the physical and mental scarring acne can cause.