Acne is a complex (complicated!) condition,  related to hormonal changes, oil-producing glands, acne-causing bacteria, and family history/genetics.

No! Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. And it is not an infection or something you can catch from someone, or pass onto someone else.

Saying that… washing your face (and chest/back) regularly (once or twice a day) helps to prevent the blockages (blackheads and white heads) which cause acne.

There is no one-sized fit all approach to acne – it really depends on the type of acne you have and how sensitive your skin is. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about products you can try.

Some people benefit from washes containing salicylic acid, others prefer washes with benzoyl peroxide. Meanwhile, other people benefit from simple foaming cleansers and others (e.g. people with very sensitive skin) need to use gentle creamy face washes.

Dermatologists usually recommend that you don’t use any facial scrubs with “bits” in them, as these can irritate or damage the skin if it is already inflamed or sensitive.

The science (research and evidence) behind diet and acne is not very strong, but some people think diet may pay a small role in acne.

Changing your diet would very rarely make a huge difference to acne, but some people find sugary foods (high glycaemic index/GI foods) can make their acne worse.

In some people dairy might also make things worse. Whey protein (used in gym supplements) can also worsen acne, so plant-based protein powders are recommended if you are taking supplements.

Speak to your doctor before making any big changes to your diet!

You should follow the instructions given to you by your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Some treatments are best applied in the evening, after washing and gently drying your face.

In general, acne treatments should be applied to the whole area affected by acne – not just to individual spots. For example,  your whole forehead, cheeks and chin.  This is because most acne treatments are trying to prevent new spots  from developing, rather than clearing up the ones that are already present.

This could be one of two things. Sometimes creams/gels can trigger an acne flare-up at the start of the treatment. This is sometimes called an acne purge. This should settle as the acne comes under control, but if you are worried spek to your doctor.

Another reason why things get worse initially, is that the skin becomes irritated by your cream/gel. Your doctor should have explained if this was likely to happen when they prescribed you something, but if your skin is red, flaky, irritated, you may be using too much of the product, or using it too frequently for your skin.

Speak to your doctor, or your GP, and if needs be stop using the treatment until the skin settles down and re-introduce the cream/gel less frequently (for example, every second day/night) and then build up to daily/nightly use as your skin gets used to the treatment.

Of course we all want their spots gone yesterday, but all acne treatments take time to work. Often it can take 6 to 8 weeks or so to really start seeing a difference. If the creams/gels are not working after a few months, then new treatments, for example, tablets may be needed – you will need to discuss things with your doctor.

First of all, it is important to understand what doctors mean by scarring. Scars are permanent changes in your skin – usually meaning the surface or texture of the skin is different. Red and brown marks which fade over time are not true scars, and we call these post-inflammatory changes.

Scarring acne is a more severe form of acne, and should be managed by a doctor and often requires tablet treatments. Do not pick or squeeze your spots as this is more likely to cause or worsen scarring.

The first step in treating acne scars, is making sure the acne is treated effectively and “switched off” to stop any chance of new scars developing.

In people with darker skin tones (brown, black and olive skin), pigmentation is common. Acne -related pigmentation can last for months and is a real problem. Switching the acne off (with creams/gels and/or tablets) is the first step, as each new spot that develops is likely to leave its mark. But it is important to know that the dark marks don’t last forever.

High-protection sun block (for example SPF50) is helpful to prevent pigmentation, as sunlight and acne together can worsen the pigmentation. This is important even if you have darker skin and don’t sunburn easily.

Make sure your sunblock is non-oily and non-comedogenic so it does not clog your skin and make acne worse.