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Wellness
LifestyleHealth & Wellness

Acne: why some adults have it, how to treat it, and one Instagrammer’s battle with chronic acne

  • Personal trainer Emily Keel developed acne as an adult, and started posting photos of her acne on social media to bring attention to the condition
  • A hormonal imbalance, diet, stress, adolescence, and some face creams and make-up can trigger it; a vaccine now being trialled offers sufferers hope

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Emily Keel is a personal trainer who posts photos of her acne online to show how everybody is different.
Anthea Rowan

Emily Keel, 24, is a personal trainer, mindful of exercise and her diet. She has long, thick dark hair and enormous green eyes. She has great teeth and a fabulous smile.

But she also has acne, which frequently makes her unhappy.

Yet, in a courageous attempt to support others with the condition, she bravely posts selfies as she describes her battle with her skin on social media.

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“I have begun posting photos of my skin on Instagram and Facebook. I was so fed up of seeing perfect pictures online, I wanted to show something real. Acne is such a confusing and individual problem, everyone’s body is unique and reacts differently to things and I just wanted to highlight that,” she wrote.

Keel posts photos on Instagram to highlight how acne affects people.
Keel posts photos on Instagram to highlight how acne affects people.
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“I have tried to be honest and open about my skin as I want to help others who are going through something similar. The response has been amazing; I have had hundreds of messages from people struggling with similar issues.”

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