I'm A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo has been bravely open and honest about her battle with acne - even going makeup-free on ITV's This Morning to raise awareness of the skin problem that affects so many people. Visiting top London skincare spot the Cadogan Clinic, the Made in Chelsea star opened up about her battle with breakouts, saying: "I think sometimes my skin has been so bad I was embarrassed to seek help. I'm very jolly by nature but I get very upset when my skin is bad. It makes me dread leaving the house."
Toff bravely removed her makeup for dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto
The dermatologist Toff saw on the show, Dr Anjali Mahto - consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic - has revealed her top tips for combatting acne, which accounts for a massive 3.5 million visits to the GP every year. "Acne can be successfully treated and there are many options including steam extraction, blue light, photodynamic therapy, chemical peels, and prescription medications," she says. Read on for her top tips…
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Seek medical advice, and keep a skin diary
"A dermatologist will be able to diagnose the condition as well as creating a treatment plan to manage and help improve the symptoms," says Dr Mahto. "Recording lifestyle factors such as frequency of breakouts, menstrual cycles, diet (sugar, dairy and GI foods) and stress levels may help you and your medical professional identify triggers, too."
Toff discusses her skin insecurities on ITV's This Morning
Get your skincare routine sorted
Dr Mahto advises 'double cleansing' - cleansing the skin once to remove any makeup or residue, then again to make sure it's completely clean. "Use a cleanser that is specifically formulated for acne," she says. Make sure you moisturise, too. "Moisturise the skin with a light gel-based moisturiser that is 'non-comedogenic', which means it prevents the formation of blackheads. Even oily skin needs moisturising as oils do not equate to hydration. Then, use a retinoid product on the skin before bed - it will help unclog pores, reduce the formation of blackheads or whiteheads, and calm inflammation," she adds.
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Don't forget to exfoliate
"Gently exfoliate the skin once a week if you have oily or acne-prone skin," says Dr Mahto. "This will immediately remove dead skin cells from the skin surface resulting in a brighter appearance. Longer term, it will reduce the development of blackheads. But it's important not to overdo this otherwise you will end up irritating the skin and making things worse."
The star has also revealed she felt self concious about her skin during I'm A Celebrity
Try steam extractions
"These can help to reduce the number of future inflamed acne spots and immediately creates a sense of 'decongestion' or unblocking of the skin. However, it does carry a risk of damage to the skin and can make cystic spots worse, so make sure you see a trained professional," she says.
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Stop picking!
"Don't scratch or squeeze your spots," says Dr Mahto. "This leads to skin damage and can potentially result in permanent pigmentation marks or scarring of the skin. It is better to use a spot-directed treatment directly onto the area such as salicylic acid, which can dry it up and help settle inflammation."
Top dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto
Check your diet
"Not everyone’s acne is driven by diet, and usually the problem comes down to genetic and hormonal factors," concludes Dr Mahto. "But it's worth looking at making sure you are getting plenty of nicotinamide, zinc, and vitamin A in your diet, avoiding eating refined sugars or processed foods, limiting any whey protein supplements, eating an omega 3-rich diet and opting for full-fat rather than low-fat dairy products."
WATCH BELOW: Behind the scenes with Toff on our HELLO! shoot
