Video
Hollyoaks Actress: When i get a spot, it’s not a spot it’s a person. It’s huge.
Hollyoaks Actor: Big killer zit
Girl 1: Something to pick but i don’t squeeze it’s disgisting.
Girl 2: I think the curse of being a teenager is spots
Hollyoaks Actress: And it’ll be somewhere really inappropriate, like there.
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Dr Dawn: There’s a lot of rubbish spouted about acne. So let’s take a look at the facts.
TEEN: I’ve been told that an unhealthy diet gives you spots.
Dr Dawn: A balanced diet will promote healthy skin but there is no scientific proof that ANY foods cause acne.
TEEN: If you’re unclean and don’t wash then you can get acne.
Dr Dawn: I recommend good hygiene, but dirty skin doesn’t cause Acne and in fact overzealous washing can make it worse.
TEEN: Sunbathing is a good way of getting rid of acne.
Dr Dawn: Ultraviolet rays may help clear some spots but sweating in the sun is likely to make your acne worse and too much sun exposure will damage your skin.
Acne occurs because of changes in hormone levels which is why teenagers are hardest hit and girls often find that their spots are worst just before a period.
The changes in hormones during puberty causes an oily substance in the skin called sebum to over-produce.With dead skin cells, sebum blocks hair follicles causing spots to form.The most common time for this to start is between 11 and 14 ñ though one in five adults suffer with acne too.And unfortunately it does tend to run in families. So if your Mum had it or brother’s got it ñ you’re 3 to 4 times more likely to suffer with acne yourself.
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Boy 1: I generally get them across the forehead or like down the nose and around the chin sort of area.
Girl 1: I get spots on my face and sometimes on my shoulders.
Girl 2: Celebrities don’t get spots and things. If you see them in magazines and they’ve got perfect skin so teenagers think they want to be like celebrities.
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Dr Dawn: I know it’s of little consolation – but you really aren’t alone with your problem. Some of the world’s most famous and stylish have suffered with acne. Acne usually clears up on its own over time; but how long varies.So don’t put off asking for treatment – there is lots of help available. For non-inflammatory acne, like black heads and white heads, try over the counter creams or gels. My favourites contain something called benzoyl peroxide.
For inflammatory acne, which is more red, bumpy and sore, prescription medication from your GP may be an option and the most commonly used are antibiotic creams or tablets. Women with acne may be prescribed a particular contraceptive pill which will regulate hormones and combat spots.
And in very severe cases when other treatments haven’t worked, your GP may refer you to a specialist who will decide whether you should have a more powerful drug called Roaccutane
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Boy 1: It can be quite embarrassing you feel very self concious of it and most people just see it and they don’t really care, and when you see it on other people you don’t care, but on yourself you can become very self concious about it.
Hollyoaks Actress 2: I was actually on TV in front of millions of people with full blown acne and that was very very very hard for me to do, but i did it and no one seemed to notice.
Girl 2: If i don’t wear make up i don’t feel very confident with myself. As long as i wear make up i’m fine.
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Dr Dawn: Pick make-up that’s oil free or water based and look for ‘non comedogenic’ or ‘non acnegenic’ on the labels. When you moisturise, use a light or oil free moisturiser. Gently remove all make-up before you go to bed and don’t pick or squeeze your spots; it not only makes them worse, it can leave you with permanent scars. And if after 2 months, you’re finding treatments aren’t working go back to your GP.
Am I Normal: Acne
Dr Dawn Harper looks at the ‘curse’ of being a teenager – acne. Dr Dawn’s guide examines the causes as well as the treatments available, whilst putting to rest some of the common myths surrounding spots and getting the opinions of teenagers around the country, as well as the cast of Hollyoaks.
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With thanks to:
Hollyoaks
University of Birmingham Hockey Club
Llanelli Youth Theatre
Tetbury Hospital
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I have loads of little blackheads all over my face and I am wondering how to get rid of them and I have tryed all over the counter remidys and treatments
im 13 years old.. and ive just started to get acne.. ive started trying some things to get rid of them.. my face is starting to get better.. you half fill a big bowl with water boiled from the kettle put your face a bit above the water.. and the steam gets to your face.. but im unsure of how to get rid of the spots on my neck and back.. i got them since i came back from spain 3 days ago.. and the dry skin has caused this.. i hate spots!
I'm 19 and I have 1000's of tiny spots everywhere. Just wondered if was just my skin or if there's anything to help.
Im 18 nearly 19, iv had spots since i was 14, that i can remember, some weeks/months it can be bad like 1/2 my face sometimes it can be good and only be a few e.g. on my chin, but iv tried just regular washing with soap, does nothing, iv tried clearasil.... which just dried out my skin so bad i got a realy bad rash and flaky skin iv also tried 90% alchol wipes which dont seem to work :(
Benzoyl Peroxide is very good for spots and u dont have to go docs to get it, u can get it over counter at chemists. Also I had a friend who used to have really bad acne, she was told to try facials and it worked wonders for her. She now goes religously every month for her facial and her skin looks lovely. Shouldn't be that expensive but must be worth it however much it costs. Hope this helps xx
I get lots of large puss spots around my Vagina and anus. What causes these and is it common?
Hi, im 14 and i have spotty legs, it never goes away , even when i wax my legs the hair goes but the hair spots dont. What should i do?
I got acne when I was 12, and have tried so many things. I am now 19 and I think they are going as I have stopped using what the doctors have given me when I think made them work, now I am just using an expensive face wash. fingers crossed it is going after this long. Its been all over my face , back and front .
What face wash?
Clinique :)
hiiiya iam 13 goin 14 n i have really bad spots on my face back n i have really deep blackheads on my face back i dont no wat 2 do pleace help
I have spots on my chin, and my fre head and my cheak basicaly all over and i'm 14 turning 15 ive had boyfriend's but none of them have ever eem to comment on it, and i know it looks ugly but i'm a good looking girl but maybe i over exsadurate hmmm, well i don't know should i use Benzoyln as the women said?