Hannah Pool 

The new black

Hannah Pool:There are few things I miss from my teenage years: never having to pay my own phone bill, never worrying about how much I was drinking (booze or water), and not having a clue how long it takes on a treadmill to work off a packet of crisps.
  
  


There are few things I miss from my teenage years: never having to pay my own phone bill, never worrying about how much I was drinking (booze or water), and not having a clue how long it takes on a treadmill to work off a packet of crisps (answer: way more than you think). But if there is one thing I don't miss, it's the joy of looking in the mirror and realising that I'd got a spot.

I got off pretty lightly in the teenage skin stakes, more through good luck and genes than anything else. However, I saw through the eyes of friends how bad teenage acne can be, and I am seeing the same thing all over again, as adult acne raises its unwelcome head. Adult acne can affect anyone, at any time, regardless of whether they have a history of bad skin. And unlike the teenage variety, there is no guarantee that it'll be just a phase.

The best thing you can do is not to let the matter get too serious. As soon as it becomes clear that this is more than a random breakout, seek professional help. Leaving things too late is how bacterial infections set in. Serious acne is not something that can be treated with a strong face wash or a trip to the local beauty salon. See a skin specialist or dermatologist, and make sure it's one who knows about black skin. Many of the acne treatments, and those for removing any remaining scars, involve lasers or harsh skin bleaching creams that can make matters much worse on black skin.

The most convincing person I've spoken to on the subject recently is Anita Vukomancic, who works with skin specialist Helen Sher (020-7499 4022; sher.co.uk), who also has a great reputation. "The most important thing is to get the skin analysed, especially as black skin scars so easily," Vukomancic says. "You have to treat the problem from the inside as well as out, using vitamins and herbs to help the body heal and produce more collagen. Anyone who tells you that you can treat acne or scars with topical creams isn't giving you good advice."

 

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