Derry is one of the leading areas for acne awareness in Northern Ireland

Derry is one of the leading areas in Northern Ireland for acne awareness.

A new search engine analysis by expert dermatologists at The Devonshire Clinic has revealed a 4.3% rise in searches for acne in the area.

In the year to October 2023, acne and 773 related keywords were searched an average of 6,500 times a month, but this rose to 6,780 in the year to October 2024.

This rise has placed Derry second in Northern Ireland for acne awareness, closely behind Newry in first, which saw a 4.5% rise in searches for acne.

The other two areas in Northern Ireland to see a rise were Lisburn and Belfast, with an increase of 2.2% and 0.2%, respectively.

The whole of Northern Ireland witnessed a 4.8% increase, which is marginal in comparison to the other nations within the United Kingdom.

The nation that saw the largest rise was England, as in the year to October 2023, acne and 773 related keywords were searched an average of 766,380 times a month, but this rose to 863,230 in the year to October 2024.

England had an increase of 12.6%, which was closely followed by Scotland in second position, which had an increase of 12.3%, while Wales had a rise of 11.8%.

Meanwhile, out on its own with an incredibly low increase in comparison to the other nations in the UK was Northern Ireland, with an increase of 4.8%.

Dermatologist Dr Conal Perrett, from The Devonshire Clinic, who conducted the research, had these top tips for treating acne.

He said: “Gentle Cleansing Twice Daily: Wash your face with a mild, non-comedogenic cleanser in the morning and evening to remove excess oil, dirt, and bacteria without irritating your skin.

“Use Over-the-Counter Topical Treatments: Apply products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to help reduce inflammation, unclog pores, and fight acne-causing bacteria.

“Avoid Picking or Squeezing Pimples: Refrain from touching or picking at acne lesions to prevent scarring and further infection.”