There are so many new ways to treat acne and scarring – but do they work?

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Blue light penetrates less deep within the skin surface and is very good at killing some of the bacteria involved in the acne lesion process,” Adebibe explains. “So, the two used together – whether side by side or as a combination treatment – can have a quite good effect of reducing outbreaks, but also to calm outbreaks that are currently in progress.” Immediate side effects include “reducing the amount of lesions that are coming,” Adebibe suggests, and long-term outcomes include “reducing sebum production and helping to calm the inflammation you’ve got going on within your skin”. Adebibe says salicylic is great for spots – it’s “like a chemical peel for the skin” and can get “down into the pore and help unclog it” – but she adds: “I probably wouldn’t use a pimple patch.” This is because she suggests salicylic acid – a beta hydroxy acid – could be used in a more effective way, though agrees the stickers are great for hiding pimples. “At that point, a pimple patch with something that is going to reduce the actual bacteria that you’ve got, plus help to calm skin inflammation – is something I could get behind,” she says.