Could this be the solution for acne we've been searching for?

For many of us, spots are truly the bane of our lives. We've tried everything from scrubs to special brushes, to toothpaste (yes, really) and not wearing makeup - but nothing seems to work.

New research from NEUTROGENA® has revealed some shocking statistics in terms of us and our skincare habits. Did you know that we are a nation of squeezers? 62% of people admit to squeezing their spots - and if we're not squeezing them we're covering them with toothpaste, like 37% of people surveyed.

Image credit: Sharon McCutcheon, via Pixabay

There are many causes for acne - and ignore the people who tell you it's because your skin is dirty or you aren't washing it properly. Not only is this untrue, but excess washing can also actually make it worse. It doesn't just affect your skin either, with many people admitting that their skin has an impact on their mental health. 40% of people have said it affects them going about their day to day routine.

33% of people would avoid getting in a picture if their skin was bad, and 25% said they would cancel a first date because of their skin. Shockingly 8% even admitted that they would even cancel a job interview.

Breakouts and acne seem to affect women more than men, with almost half of women saying that their skin has an impact on their self-esteem. There are hopes that this may change, with more and more bloggers and Instagram influencers using their platforms to normalise acne and stars like Kendall Jenner publicly speaking out about their battles with acne. It's not an embarrassing thing - breakouts are a fact of life and annoyingly for many people so is acne - but you don't have to suffer in silence. There are plenty of things you can do to help.

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Image credit: Ruby Naldrett // created with Canva. All statistics courtesy of NEUTROGENA®

When you visit a dermatologist it's highly likely that they will use light therapy to treat your skin, but it's a lengthy process that can be very expensive (not great when you're on a student budget). Luckily there some alternatives on the high street that can give you equally great treatment but for a fraction of the price.

NEUTROGENA® is known for its spot fighting facial washes and skincare, but they also have a light therapy range. The NEUTROGENA® VISIBLY CLEAR® Light Therapy Acne Mask, is for mild to moderate acne and the mask covers your whole face. You might have seen it doing the rounds on social media as it does resemble something straight out Star Wars (but isn't that part of the fun?)

Images courtesy of NEUTROGENA®

There's also the NEUTROGENA® VISIBLY CLEAR® Light Therapy Targeted Acne Spot Treatment, a smaller stick like treatment made to target specific spots – the blue light attacks acne-causing bacteria, while the red light reduces inflammation.

An independent study of the mask, (performed on 52 people with mild to moderate acne), showed that nearly 80% of subjects showed fewer breakouts after just one week of daily treatments.

If you're struggling with your skin, and it's having an effect on your mental health then please visit your GP and consult the NHS website for more information.

All statistics are from research conducted by NEUTROGENA®

Lead image credit: Sharon McCutcheon, via Pixabay

Could this be the solution for acne we've been searching for?

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