Our Fabulous columnist is one of the thousands of UK women who struggle with adult acne. Dermatologists have reported a 200% rise in the number of adults seeking treatment, and the epidemic has been linked to an increase in stress
JOE will have absolutely no recollection of the day I first cleansed, toned and moisturised in front of him, but I remember it vividly. I felt as though I was about to take off an invisibility cloak and he was going to see me for the lizard-skinned creature I am.
As a teenager I always worried when acne would strike – but, surprisingly, I never had any trouble with spots. I’d get the odd pimple on my chin or nose when I was due on my period and that was it.
But at 26 I suddenly started getting clusters of spots around my cheeks and chin. I hadn't changed my diet, my lifestyle was exactly the same and I don't use hormone contraceptive. I thought it was just a phase and they’d go away – but they didn’t.
I’m 28 now and I get spots regularly. I have craters and scars from some of the stubborn spots. I’d love to say it doesn’t bother me. To be fair, the majority of the time, it doesn’t – but sometimes it really gets me down.
When I first met Joe, the prospect of taking my make-up off in front of him was excruciating. I didn't want him to see what lay beneath the silky layer of foundation. We first spent time together in Australia where he was presenting the I'm A Celebrity spin-off show and I was a guest panellist.
I wanted to be make-up-free and beachy but I couldn't bear the thought of him seeing all of my spots and damaged skin. So, I got up at 3am, every morning, and put my foundation on in the sweltering heat before going to camp. I topped it up continuously throughout the day.
The most ironic thing about me being so paranoid was that the more make-up I wore, the worse my spots got. My skin literally could not breathe! I had two choices: ditch the foundation and see Joe, or keep the foundation and ditch Joe. I obviously took the plunge and stopped covering my spots.
I walked out of the bathroom make-up-free with my ‘scales’ on show. I looked at him apprehensively as if to say: "Well, here I am, this is me." And he just looked back at me blankly.
I was ready to launch into a speech full of quotes like, "it’s what’s on the inside that counts", and "if you don't love me at my worst…blah blah blah". After what felt like hours (it was probably under a minute) of us staring at one another blankly, me bearing all, he said: "What’s wrong? Are you hungry? I can make a sandwich if you want."
He didn't think I looked any different. The best and sometimes most infuriating thing about Joe is he takes no notice of my physical appearance whatsoever. I've worn a wig 16” longer before and a completely different colour to my natural hair and he's been shocked to discover it’s a wig!
My spots helped me realise that Joe loves more about me than my appearance. He loves me for who I am. So corny, I know, but it’s true.
I often rub my hands across my face; feel all of the dents and bumps in my skin and my heart sinks a little. I know this sounds totally pathetic, but I often think to myself, ‘these are the years where my skin is going to be at its least wrinkly and it’s tarnished by craters and spots’. It’s terribly superficial and there are much more important things in life to worry about, but it does get to me.
Acne is often thought of as a problem for the young – but, sadly, zits don’t magically disappear the day you turn 20.
"Acne occurs frequently after the teenage years and at significantly higher rates in women compared with men," says Doris Day, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center and the author of 100 Questions & Answers About Acne.
Day says "as many as 50 percent of women will suffer from acne at some point in their adult lives," with more than half of women in their 20s and 35 percent of women in their 30s experiencing some form of acne.
It is not known why adult women develop acne, but factors include: pores getting clogged by oil, skin cells, hormones and bacteria.
“The pattern of acne is usually different in adults than it is in teens. In teens, it's usually on the forehead and cheeks," explains Day, "while in adults it tends to be mostly on the lower face, along the jawline and neck."
Acne in adults tends to come in the form of big angry bumps, while teens tend to see a mix of cystic bumps, as well as blackheads and whiteheads throughout the entire face.
Retinoids are particularly well suited to fight adult acne because they can be used in combination with other treatments and moisturisers.
I still think I look beautiful without make-up on. I sometimes wish the spots and scars weren't there, but they're a part of me and I can accept them most of the time.
I love being make-up-free. When I’m not working I wear no make-up at all. When I do Loose Women I’ll arrive make-up-free and then take it off as soon as I get into the car home (unless I’m going on somewhere afterwards).
Before I started getting spots I loved my make-up-free skin. In fact, I love it more than when I had foundation on. I think foundation always looks like foundation, if you know what I mean; it almost looks like a layer of material over my skin.
For anyone struggling with spots, at any age, after two years of trying different things - snail gel, mud masks and blackhead strips - in my experience I haven't managed to find a magic cream or contraceptive that would just make them disappear.
I've had my hormones tested (NORMAL), my gut (NORMAL), bacteria levels in my skin (NORMAL), intolerances (NONE). I’ve tried every vitamin under the sun. Retin A, probiotics, diet changes… and nothing has managed to make them disappear.
The only way I've managed to keep my skin calm and to reduce the spots slightly is by drinking LOADS of water (two to three litres a day), eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir and natural yoghurt, cleaning my make up off RELIGIOUSLY, and having as much quality sleep as possible.
There really is no magical solution. There’s a soap I use to clean my face, which is about £28. It's really expensive, but it lasts me at least six months.
I’m going to invest in some laser treatment to try and remove some of the scars. It's pricey but I think in some bad cases people can get it on the NHS.
I don’t have any friends who are experiencing spots right now, which can be a little lonely at times.
To anyone suffering with acne or skin issues, it’s important to know that your skin doesn’t define you. We are inundated with pictures, especially at this time of year, of beautifully sun-kissed blemish-free people, so it’s hard not to think: "I wish my skin looked like that."
But, in reality, most of those pictures are completely Photoshopped and the models are covered in make-up - even the so-called "natural" ones. You are beautiful with or without spots. And I believe that these so-called blemishes add character!
My spots don't make me any less of a person. In fact I'm probably more of the person I was before if we are talking surface area and mass! Haha.
Stacey has previously discussed the furore her curly hairdo on Loose Women caused.
And has reflected on her Jewish faith and the role religion has played in her life.
