Teenagers are using increasingly "desperate and unproven" skin treatments to remedy spots and acne, including nail polish and Deep Heat. Research out today says that 89 per cent of teenagers admit to trying anything to clear up their spots.

Teenagers as young as 13 admit to using nail polish remover, TCP and other hard spirits like vodka on their face, said skincare provider Simple, which carried out the research. Others are using a harsh cleanser before jumping on a sunbed for an intense session, or use combinations of ice and muscle relief creams like Deep Heat – hoping the searing heat will clear their spots.

Yet many are unaware they could be causing irreparable, long-term damage to their skin – the body's biggest organ - by applying such products, which are not designed for the face, straight onto raw, irritated and sometimes broken skin.

Nail polish remover for example can blind if it gets in your eye and can do serious damage to your internal organs if swallowed, while exposing raw flesh to sunbeds and sunlamps is one of the surest ways to increase the risk of skin cancer.

Simple consultant dermatologist Dr Susie Morris commented: "Young people need to be educated that these extreme measures will not only exacerbate their skin problems now, but in later life, when the damage to the skin, particularly from sun-beds becomes more evident and skin begins to age prematurely.

"This will result in age-spots and wrinkles etc. Also these very harsh treatments, particularly products such as TCP will actually irritate the skin so much that the skin will react by producing even more oil and the acne will get worse. Although the spot may improve initially the result is damage to the epidermis and worsening of acne."  Simple says it has now set up a board of skincare advisors aged between 12 and 16 to help educate teenagers on how to take better care of their skin.