What makes acne worse?

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1. Hormones

Hormones are often at the root of acne, according to Dr Rob Hicks: 'Medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can cause acne, as can the use of progesterone-containing contraceptive pills.'

If you have higher-than-average levels of certain hormones in the body, such as progesterone and testosterone, this can increase oil production and make the skin worse.

One of the features of PCOS is increased levels of testosterone and sufferers may experience weight gain, excessive hair growth, irregular periods and acne as a result.

1 in 10 women have PCOS making it one of the most common hormonal disorders, so if you're concerned, it's worth taking a blood test.

2. Stress

Although stress doesn't actually cause acne, recent studies have shown that it can make any acne that already exists a lot worse.

Doctors still don't know if the link between anxiety and acne is down to a release of hormones or because stress slows our body's ability to heal itself.

3. Cosmetics

Many women try to disguise their acne problem by layering on the foundation, but make-up simply clogs up the pores, making the skin worse.

4. Picking at spots

Constantly touching affected areas and picking at spots not only makes the skin oilier and blocks pores, but also stops the blemishes from healing properly which can result in scarring.

5. Wearing tight clothes

Tight-fitting clothes make acne worse by increasing the amount of sweat, sebum and dead skin cells trapped on the skin. Snug clothing, bra-straps, collars and wearing backpacks can also rub spots, which irritate and stop them from healing.

6. Certain drugs

Some types of medication can aggravate bad skin. These include steroids, anti-epileptic drugs and lotions used to treat eczema. If you're worried that your prescribed medicine is irritating your skin, see your GP.

By Victoria Poolman