MADONNA is so hung up on maintaining her porcelain doll-like complexion that she bought oxygen machines to fill her house. A-list beauties such as Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Claudia Schiffer are all diehard fans of the therapeutic gas. Even culture secretary Tessa Jowell is thought to enjoy a discreet spray at her local beauty clinic in Knightsbridge.

It involves a machine that sprays atomised moisturisers onto the skin using a stream of pressurised oxygen. The treatment is supposed to hydrate skin immediately, making the face appear smoother and plumper.

The status of oxygen facials - embraced by a growing number of doctors, spas and beauty therapists - is typical of many cosmetic treatments that do not claim to alter the skin.

Fellow dermatologist Dr Frederic Barndt said: "We hope that the oxygen is creating a pressure bubble that drives vitamins and nutrients into the skin. But we have no data to support it."

In the United States, Americans have had almost 20,000 such facials in the last year and the trend is getting strong backing in the UK, with a flurry of celebrities signing up for the craze.

London-based beautician Linda Meredith - who claims to have 70 celebrity clients on her books - was quick to defend the craze, claiming the treatment had no negative side-effects.

"Yes, it has a celebrity association but this is no passing craze. Of course, the excitement value of things comes and goes, but this is becoming hugely popular."

It has been reported that Tessa Jowell has enjoyed oxygen facials at Meredith's London Health and Beauty Clinic. She is also alleged to have encouraged fellow Commons MPs to enjoy similar treatments.

She said: "The skin is the biggest organ our body has and we treat it as one. Its texture, its problems and its requirements are individually assessed to achieve the best results. Aggressive treatments can sometimes result in dramatic improvements.

"From one day to the next someone's skin can change and we adapt to that. People come in with problem skin and leave with the spongy skin of a child."

Meredith believes that the trend is simply an extension of the lifestyle choices currently being taken by women in the UK, criticising sceptics for their inability to move with the times.

The Female Beauty Survey of Great Britain for New Woman magazine revealed earlier this month that women now spend more than £180,000 on beauty products in their lifetime, spending an average of £3,000 a year on self-maintenance. With plastic surgery and dental work on the increase, the figure continues to rise.

The survey also revealed that only 3% of women believe they are naturally beautiful, while 98% think they need make-up before they can think about facing the world.

The average woman spends £24 a month on perfume and £21 on face and body moisturisers. Additionally, £600 a year goes on massages and facials and £340 on hairdressers.

While Madonna is reported to have purchased oxygen machines for each one of her homes - to help boost her energy levels and combat jet-lag - Meredith said she believed in self-policing.

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