The barefaced truth! An online movement's fighting back against celebrity airbrushing by encouraging women with adult acne to ditch the concealer

  • Four women have been photographed with their spots and scars on display
  • The group hope to wipe out the stigma surrounding blemished adult skin
  • In 2015, Em Ford posted a video showing her acne,  and started a movement
  • The YouTuber also shared hurtful comments she'd received about her skin

Look at these women. They are stunning, glowing with health, their eyes radiant. Yet their looks have caused them such distress that they've refused to leave the house without make-up — or even called in sick to avoid pitying stares at work.

Why? Because they all share the same 'flaw' — acne. And today, they have bravely agreed to be photographed with their spots and scars on display, in the hope of wiping out the stigma surrounding blemished skin.

That's the goal of what's become known as the 'skin positivity' movement, in which women are fighting back against the pressure to appear flawless.

Louisa Northcote (left) and Jemma Thomas (right) are two of the four women that have been photographed with their spots and scars on display. They hope to wipe out the stigma surrounding blemished adult skin

Louisa Northcote (left) and Jemma Thomas (right) are two of the four women that have been photographed with their spots and scars on display. They hope to wipe out the stigma surrounding blemished adult skin

The idea first gained attention in 2015, when YouTuber Em Ford posted a video showing her acne, along with hurtful comments she'd received, from 'You look disgusting' to 'Has she ever washed her face?' This prompted thousands of women to share their stories of cruel taunts.

Actress Saoirse Ronan, 24, has discussed developing acne in her early 20s, while fellow Cameron Diaz and Natalie Portman have spoken about their outbreaks, too.

Meanwhile, there are some 10,000 online posts from ordinary women talking about #skinpositivity.

Poonam Vaja, 32, a PR consultant from Milton Keynes, has had monthly outbreaks of acne since she was in her teens
Businesswoman and mother of three Caroline Adams, 41, had the usual teenage spots but, in her 20s, they worsened

Poonam Vaja, 32, (left) and Caroline Adams, 41, (right) also bared their bare skin for the shoot. They are among the many women in the #skinpositivity movement

Take businesswoman and mother of three Caroline Adams, 41. She had the usual teenage spots but, in her 20s, they worsened. She says she felt ashamed as a result and so uncomfortable that she even wore full make-up to go swimming. 'I held my head out of the water,' she recalls.

Yet raising her two daughters, now aged five and ten, has made her determined not to let her spots limit her life any more. To help foster their confidence, Caroline won't mention her spots in front of them or wear make-up around the house. 'I'd rather they had good self-esteem than anything else,' she says. 'It's such a shame that all teenage girls seem to cake themselves in make-up.

'They have no idea how beautiful they are, because the message they're getting from social media and cosmetics companies is that they need 'flawless' skin. I don't want my daughters to feel that.'

Adult acne such as Caroline's is a growing problem. A 2016 study of 92 dermatological clinics found a 200 per cent increase in adults seeking acne treatment, with women five times as likely as men to be affected in later life.

Louisa Northcote, 22, a model and fashion student, appeared on reality TV show Britain's Next Top Model, where she talked about her spots to raise awareness

Louisa Northcote, 22, a model and fashion student, appeared on reality TV show Britain's Next Top Model, where she talked about her spots to raise awareness

Acne can also have lasting psychological consequences.

According to the British Skin Foundation, 95 per cent of sufferers say it affects their daily life. And a 15-year study found that people with acne had an 18.5 per cent chance of developing major depression, compared with 12 per cent in the general population. Model and fashion student Louisa Northcote, 22, became depressed when her acne flared due to the change of climate on moving from Dubai to the UK.

She says: 'I became more and more self-conscious until, eventually, I barely left my house.' At the height of her skin problems, Louisa appeared on reality TV show Britain's Next Top Model, where she talked about her spots to raise awareness.

Although the worst of her acne has now cleared, Louisa says speaking out has helped her cope. 'There is a whole acne community online — we're all supporting each other.'

Poonam refuses on principle to cover up her blemishes, and doesn't wear make-up because it clogs up her pores. She said: 'I also really don't see why I should conceal something that is completely natural.'

Poonam refuses on principle to cover up her blemishes, and doesn't wear make-up because it clogs up her pores. She said: 'I also really don't see why I should conceal something that is completely natural.'

She has also had a course of acid peels and laser treatments at the Sk:n chain of clinics to help treat her deep scarring.

But why are this many women suffering with what was once considered a 'teenage' problem?

'Women have more complex hormones than men, so they're more likely to develop acne as adults,' says consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, of the Cadogan Clinic in London.

However, she admits that we don't entirely understand the surge in female adult acne. She says lifestyle factors such as diet and frequency of cleansing have little impact — and, for many, there is no cure.

Jemma Thomas, 37, say her acne, which is linked to the condition polycystic ovary syndrome, can sometimes be so painful she can't put her face in the shower

Jemma Thomas, 37, say her acne, which is linked to the condition polycystic ovary syndrome, can sometimes be so painful she can't put her face in the shower

Spots can strike at any time, although for some women, they recur each month just before their period. Dr Mahto explains that this is because, around this time, levels of the male hormone testosterone are relatively high, which can trigger outbreaks.

This is also why some women get spots when they're stressed: the body produces more testosterone when under pressure.

Poonam Vaja, 32, a PR consultant from Milton Keynes, has had monthly outbreaks since she was in her teens. 'I eat well, barely drink and exercise regularly, so it feels unfair,' she says.

But she refuses on principle to cover up her blemishes. 'I rarely wear much make-up, as it clogs pores. I also really don't see why I should conceal something that is completely natural. I'll wear the full works if I want to — but nobody should feel they have to hide behind a mask.'

Caroline, isn't alone in suffering from adult acne. A 2016 study of 92 dermatological clinics found a 200 per cent increase in adults seeking acne treatment

Caroline, isn't alone in suffering from adult acne. A 2016 study of 92 dermatological clinics found a 200 per cent increase in adults seeking acne treatment

Dr Elle Boag, a senior lecturer in social psychology at Birmingham City University, agrees we need to change our ideas about beauty. She says we may be conditioned to find clear skin attractive as, in the past, it was considered a marker of health and fertility.

'We now know clear skin can be hiding all manner of physical and psychological conditions: no one is without flaws. The 'perfection' seen on social media and in magazines has to be dropped.'

For years, Jemma Thomas, 37, aspired to this flawless image. But her acne, linked to the condition polycystic ovary syndrome, made it impossible. 'During a bad breakout, I can't even put my face in the shower, as it's so painful, and I have to take painkillers before bed,' she says. 'I've tried every treatment, but now have to accept that nothing will clear my skin.'

According to the British Skin Foundation, 95 per cent of acne sufferers say it affects their daily life - for Louisa (right) it flared up when she moved from Dubai to the UK

According to the British Skin Foundation, 95 per cent of acne sufferers say it affects their daily life - for Louisa (right) it flared up when she moved from Dubai to the UK

Louisa said that at it's worst, her acne made her not want to leave the house, and she suffered from depression due to her blemished skin

Louisa said that at it's worst, her acne made her not want to leave the house, and she suffered from depression due to her blemished skin

Jemma, who has two children with husband Billy, adds: 'I had normal teenage spots but, at 17, I realised it wasn't clearing up.

'I was very self-conscious. When Billy and I were dating, I'd sneak out of bed each morning, put on make-up, then climb back in.'

When her spots were bad, she even called in sick to her job at a London advertising agency. 'I felt that the image they wanted was perfect and youthful. My skin didn't fit into that,' says Jemma, who now runs online fitness firm Jemma's Health Hub.

Only when she saw other women speaking openly about the misery of acne last year did Jemma realise that, while she couldn't get rid of her spots, she could change how she felt about them.

Caroline, who has two daughters, now aged five and ten,  won't mention her spots in front of them or wear make-up around the house. She said: 'I'd rather they had good self-esteem than anything else,

Caroline, who has two daughters, now aged five and ten, won't mention her spots in front of them or wear make-up around the house. She said: 'I'd rather they had good self-esteem than anything else,

'I felt we were all in the same club: that gave me confidence.'

These days, Jemma rarely wears make-up, but admits she sometimes does the school run with her head down. 'Some days, I feel empowered; on others, I just can't face anyone.'

But she hopes, one day, acne will no longer go hand-in-hand with stigma, shame and misery. And she believes by appearing bare-faced, she will make more women feel they no longer have to hide.

Poonam leads a healthy lifestyle and said her bad skin feel unfair. 'I eat well, barely drink and exercise regularly, so it feels unfair,' she says

Poonam leads a healthy lifestyle and said her bad skin feel unfair. 'I eat well, barely drink and exercise regularly, so it feels unfair,' she says

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