ACNE sufferers should be given pioneering laser treatment on the NHS, according to the director of a Bolton clinic.

Denise Leslie, director of Laserase North-west, said her clinic's laser machine was now at the forefront of national treatment to get rid of acne.

She said: "Acne is so disfiguring to a person and is really mentally scarring more than physically. I've been pushing for this to be made available on the NHS because, in the long run, it will save so much time and money.

The laser machine, based at The Royal Bolton Hospital, was initially bought to treat lines and wrinkles but its effectiveness at helping to cure acne was spotted.

The private clinic has a 95 per cent success rate in using the lasers to treat the skin. It has been using the treatment since February and 19 patients so far have undergone the treatment. Some of their patients are hospital referrals.

Mrs Leslie, who was a key speaker at a national acne conference in Leeds this week, said: "We have been working hard with dermatologists since we bought the machine three years ago, even though it wasn't designed for acne.

"This technique is a major breakthrough, with the beneficial effects of one session being shown to last for many months.

"It is unfair the laser is only available to people who can afford to pay. In the long run, it would reduce the need for repeat prescriptions and the amount of time spent by GPs."

Acne does not just affect teenagers. Five per cent of women and one per cent of men aged 40 suffer from acne. The condition can last for 20 years and is thought to be made worse through stress.

Mrs Leslie said: "Acne can have a serious effect on people's lives. It can cause them to give up their jobs, stop socialising and even become suicidal.

"It means so much to people when they don't have it anymore. I had one lady ring me up crying with relief because her son wanted to go to school again. He had suffered so much with being called names, he hadn't wanted to go in the past."

Bolton is one of a handful of places in England to have the machine. A session costs from £50 to £300 and the laser light destroys the bacteria that create acne. More research is currently being carried out at the Hammersmith Hospital in London.

Ring the clinic on 01204 382000 for more information.