How does LED Blue Light Technology harnesses all the benefits of light to treat acne without the harmful UV rays? Dr Sam Robson - medical director at Temple Clinic, UK - explains how we can combine what we have learned from science and nature to get the best of both worlds in her latest blog.

In these dark days of Covid-19, we can sometimes lose sight of less threatening ailments. Acne is a good example – and yet there are several reasons why acne may have become more troublesome since the start of the pandemic.

Yes this is real. Many of us wear a mask on a daily basis due to the current pandemic. I am seeing so many more patients in my practice with spots and irritated skins. Some patients have developed quite severe cystic Acne. People who do not generally have any acne problems are suffering from maskne.

So how does Acne start? All human skin is actually alive with bacteria; it lives in our skin, and some of it within its little openings, right where the hair sprouts out. When these little pores become blocked with dead skin and excessive oil (aka sebum), the bacteria multiply underneath and contribute to inflammation.

A fabulous and very honest update from Freyja. ‘Yes I still get the odd break out and yes it makes me feel self conscious and miserable but compared to 3 years ago this is nothing!'

"Acne did have an impact on my social life, as even with the best spot coverage makeup on, my spots were still easily visible and so it’s not like I could even rely on makeup to make me feel better. This resulted in me refusing to leave the house to go out for meals, to have catch ups with my friends and even to see the ones I love..."