There is no need to suffer. Acne is an entirely treatable condition and most people can be totally cleared on the right therapy. Finding the right treatment may take some time, and unfortunately not every person’s acne responds to the same approach. Even on the right treatment acne tends to take a few weeks to really improve. If you don’t do well after a few weeks then it is time to try something else. Try and live a healthy lifestyle, with enough sleep, a healthy diet, absolutely no cigarettes, and a sensible consumption of alcohol. Beyond this don’t worry too much about changing your diet or ..read more

The most effective and powerful treatment for acne is an oral medication called isotretinoin, which goes by the brand name Roaccutane or Accutane (in the USA). This treatment will typically completely clear acne within about 4-6 months and can then often be stopped. Acne usually then either completely stays away or clears for a long time, particularly if a gel or cream is used to maintain the improvement. In about one-in-three people acne comes back, but usually does so gradually and after a delay of months or years. Treatment with isotretinoin can be repeated, and it can even be used, (under ..read more

Topical treatments include gels and creams that are applied to the skin. They can be an excellent way to treat acne and may be all you need. The most effective topical treatments are available only on prescription , although for mild acne over the counter benzoyl peroxide-containing creams or nicotinamide may help. If using benzoyl peroxide then chose the lowest percentage strength you can find – 2.5% is as effective as anything higher, but higher percentage creams are more likely to cause skin irritation. Always remember that creams are designed to prevent spots and do not work so well on act ..read more

Well this is wrong. Unfortunately acne often continues into adult life, especially in women. Whilst most young men with acne find that is clears up in their twenties, in women it often goes in to the thirties and beyond. In fact one in twenty women aged forty still has acne. Adult females with acne typically develop more deep-seated spots, often in the lower-third of the face and the jawline. Most women with acne experience a worsening in the week before the menstrual period, as hormone levels in the body rise. We know hormones are important in acne, particularly testosterone. Testosterone dri ..read more

Acne is not an infection and it’s not in the least bit contagious. So what is the deal with antibiotics? Well to be honest as a dermatologist, I wish we didn’t still have to rely on courses of antibiotics to treat acne. It’s a slight frustration to me that the profession and the pharmaceutical industry has not come up with alternatives to treat this common and upsetting condition. We’re trying as a doctors to reduce the use of antibiotics, but we need alternatives. The fact is that in acne they often work well and get things under control within a few weeks, especially when used with the right ..read more

No one should have to put up with acne. It can be upsetting, painful, cause embarrassment, reduce confidence and it can scar. But is it treatable and almost everyone with acne can be cleared with the right help. What causes acne? Acne is not caused by lack of washing, greasy hair, dirt, food allergy, chocolate or too much or too little sex. It is caused by activity of the oil glands, especially on the face back and chest. This activity is controlled by hormones, which explains why acne often starts in adolescence, when hormone levels rise. It is also caused by overgrowth of skin inside the hai ..read more

A few weeks into the New Year, and it seems that the gym is busier than ever. Those New Year’s Resolutions have definitely kicked in. A constructive and sensible exercise programme is a great way to lose weight, improve aerobic fitness, strength and flexibility. But what about your skin? What problems do gym users and athletes develop and how can we prevent them? 1. Verrucas Verrucas are caused by infection of the soles of the feet with the human papilloma virus, the cause of warts. The virus infects the keratinocyte, the main cell in the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin causing them to ..read more

Are you lucky enough to be hitting the slopes this winter? Well remember your snow booties, enjoy the vin chaud and hopefully you’ll get plenty of fresh powder. With minus 15 wind chill and masses of reflected UV light from the snow it’s amazing that our skin copes at all. Here’s a few quick tips from The London Dermatologist to keep your skin healthy as you schuss, slalom and scoff your delicious lunch on the mountain terrace. Protect Against Skiing UV Although it’s mid-winter, ultraviolet levels on the slopes can be massive. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the level of UV increases ..read more

Do you have dry hands this winter? Are your fingers and knuckles suffering in the cold? Are your extremities so parched you are becoming a fire hazard?! Well, you aren’t alone! It may seem weird that at the time of year when temperatures are lower, your skin is the driest. If you want to dry something out you warm it up on the radiator, right? During the winter, the skin is actually much more likely to dry out. The telltale signs are soreness, scaling and slight redness. Hands are especially vulnerable, typically the knuckles. Why does this happen? Well, cold temperatures lower absolute humidi ..read more

Spring forward, fall back… The clocks have changed and I’m wending my way home through London streets in the dark. I’m struggling to remember to keep the bike lights charged. It’s a time that reminds us that the long nights and cold days of winter are coming. A recent study from Denmark has shown a link between clocks changing for winter and depressive episodes. But hey, I feel okay! One thing I do notice as a dermatologist though is the significant effects of winter on the skin. It might be cold and wet outside, but winter is drying on the skin. This is because of something dermatologists cal ..read more