The ancient Egyptians treated it with a mixture of bullocks’ bile, olive oil, ostrich egg, salt and plant resin, mixed to a paste with flour and milk. It’s regarded as an essential part of adolescence But what do you do when you’re 30 and still getting acne?

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It’s perfectly normal to be a spotty teenager. But you hit 25 or even 30, breaking out can be traumatic. If it’s serious enough you can end up with serious scarring, which does little for anyone’s self-esteem.

But if you thought acne was caused by chocolates, fried foods and sugary drinks you’d be wrong. All those things may cause other health problems, but they don’t bring on zits. Anabolic steroids and some drugs – legal or illegal – can aggravate acne. Vitamin B12, lithium and some treatments for epilepsy and tuberculosis can make it flare up.

But acne – like so many other problems – is largely brought on by hormonal factors. Some women find that The Pill improves their acne. But that’s not an option for guys, so what’s to be done? You ought to see a doctor, who may prescribe something.

Meanwhile, there are a few things you can do to help banish the scourge of the skin.

• Wash your face daily with a mild soap;
• Avoid astringents and harsh soaps unless your doctor recommends them;
• Don’t pick or squeeze the spots. If you have spot that is yellow and filled with pus, use sterilized needle to open it and gently squeeze the contents out onto a clean tissue. Wash your hands afterwards;
• Apply tea tree oil to the affected skin. Avoid the area around the eyes, as tea tree oil is strong;

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