Acne is a hideous condition. Vindictive and spiteful, it leaves sufferers of all ages feeling utterly miserable. At its worst, it can infiltrate every aspect of your life, stopping you from going out of the house, causing severe depression.
For people with bad skin, the prospect of a cure, however remote, is the Holy Grail. In the 11 years I have suffered from acne, I have tried everything around: antibiotics, both topical and oral, the contraceptive pill (worked a charm, but I didn’t want to be on it indefinitely), regular facials, diet remedies and herbalists, but nothing seemed to help.
So it was with mixed emotions that I headed to the Dynasty Clinic in London, to see Jenny Harding. Jenny used to be a nurse and has suffered from acne herself. She has had her salon for nearly ten years now, and comes highly recommended by a number of fellow acne sufferers.
Jenny explained we needed a “two-pronged” attack. Tackle the cause from the inside with Minocin, an antibiotic that disables the acne-causing bacteria (obviously subject to a prescription from my GP). Then, for the outside, I would need regular facials, every 10-14 days, at £60 a go, until we got it under control.
Jenny’s facials are not for the faint of heart: this is a treatment, not a treat. You will be prodded and poked, and your pores pinched, squeezed and scraped for hours, and it’s painful. Jenny empties your pores of the grime that blocks them, causing a build-up of sebum under the surface that, if not released, can become infected, causing a pimple. I left her salon after my first facial glowing for all the wrong reasons. Every spot I have ever had was red, aggravated and sore. I got on the tube wearing enormous Nicole Richie-style sunglasses, with my hair down, in an attempt to hide as much of my face as possible. When I woke the next morning though, the spots were starting to heal and my faith had been slightly restored. And so I continued to follow Jenny’s instructions to the letter.
Advertisement
I have to use the products that Jenny has developed herself, and are made for her by doctors in Canada – she is adamant that there should be no other product in my skin’s diet. I need to wash my face twice, twice a day, using Dermagel (£11.40) and cotton flannel towels fresh from the laundry, morning and night, followed by Herb-A-Clear All Purpose Cream (£15) in the morning, and Pink Heaven (£30), mixed to a strength suitable for me, in the evening. Jenny also gave me a pot of Miracle Healer (£15) that I am to apply to any spots before I go to bed. All the ingredients Jenny uses are organic, and mimic other synthetic products, but without the chemicals.
Over the past two months, I have visited Jenny, every two weeks as prescribed, for her facials and managed to score some Minocin from my doctor. I saw a marked improvement after just a couple of weeks. I’m a sceptic and a pessimist when it comes to cures for acne, and only time will tell if this is just a short-term remedy, but my skin now is clearer than it has been in years. In fact, I am positively excited about leaving the house without make-up on.
The Dynasty Clinic, 65 London Wall, EC2 (020-7588 2616; www.dynastyclinic.net ). Sarah Vine is away