The appearance of acne is distressing for most teenagers.
One minute they are happy getting on with their life and next minute slap bang in the middle of their forehead or on the tip of their nose, the most hideous spot appears? What happens after that depends upon any advice they are given.
It is fair to say that it is seldom one spot, one spot normally leads to another and another leaving them with a complexion that they were simply not prepared for.
Spots may also be appearing on their back, chest and/or arms.
The really sad part about all of this is that it is not just the odd teenager who has to endure this horrible and sometimes frightening experience, 95% of the teenagers in the UK at some point will be affected by acne.
Even more depressing news is that 13% of these boys and 3% of these girls will continue to be affected by acne well past adolescence and well into middle age.
This information makes it difficult to offer them the guarantee "you will grow out of it".
Why do spots appear? Why do some teenagers manage to get through life without any at all? Is there a miracle product whether it be a medicated lotion, acne drug or an expensive cream that can stop spots from appearing? Does squeezing the spots spread them? Does eating chocolate cause spots? These are just a few of the questions that will be running through the heads of most teenagers.
There are many different ways to tackle acne.
Medicated skincare products, which are easily available in chemists and supermarkets, tend to be the first option.
Unfortunately, despite marketing to the contrary, not everyone gets the results they hope for and a visit to a GP normally follows.
A GP, depending upon the severity of the acne, will prescribe either a topical lotion, antibiotic or in the case of females, the contraceptive pill.
Many doctors in the UK do not believe that diet plays any part in the appearance of acne and the explanation given is usually down to "too many hormones".
Whilst many teenagers are desperate to get rid of their acne by any means, what they need to be aware of is that if they choose to tackle their acne with prescription drugs, they may be opening up the door to bad health and the re-appearance of acne later in life.
All prescription drugs come with the risk of unwanted side effects.
Antibiotics, for example, destroy the good bacteria in the colon.
Good bacteria, is vital to complete digestion and to keep the immune system working.
Whilst antibiotics may help to stop acne for a period of time the consequences of taking antibiotics long term have very serious consequences to the patients overall health.
"There is no scientific evidence that links diet to acne" is a statement commonly used by many doctors in the UK.
Nutritionists, herbalists, naturopathic and homeopathic doctors, however, think very differently, and fully understand that what an acne sufferer chooses to eat has the greatest impact on the condition of their skin.
Whilst it is an increase in the male hormone testosterone that causes acne in the case of many teenagers, what most do not appreciate is that what they choose to eat during puberty plays a major impact on the production of this hormone.
If a teenager's diet is made up of refined foods such as cakes, white bread, sweets, fizzy drinks, fast food, all of these foods raise the blood sugar level.
These foods are known as 'High GI'.
Natural foods such as fruit and vegetables are digested slowly and have little effect on the blood sugar level.
These foods are known as 'Low GI'.
When the blood sugar level is raised, the body produces insulin, this insulin triggers the production of the male hormone testosterone which in turn produces sebum which in turn clogs pores and produces spots.
Choosing to eat the wrong types of food therefore produces an unwanted chemical reaction in the body that leads to acne.
As a teenager's body is already going through changes and has a high level of testosterone it is wise to ensure that they eat as many natural foods as possible, Low GI foods therefore would be the food of choice for any teenager.
Food intolerances can often be the root cause of acne with dairy, gluten, wheat, sugar, yeast and spicy foods being the primary offenders.
Avoiding each of these foods for two weeks at a time can often show dramatic results and many teenagers have been able to clear their skin simply by avoiding a certain foodstuff.
The body needs good clean water to wash away toxins therefore it is important to drink one small glass of water every hour to help with this process, aim to drink between 6-8 glasses of water each day, this equates to approximately 1 litre.
The body also needs vitamins and minerals to help healing and repair therefore it is important to eat good quality natural foods such as fruit and vegetables with burgers, cakes and sweets being kept to a minimum.
Additional supplements to keep skin healthy would include: - a good quality multi-vitamin one taken twice a day, 1,000mg Vitamin C one taken twice a day, evening primrose oil capsules two per day, probiotic capsules two per day and digestive enzymes take two with breakfast and dinner.
Additional information regarding how to achieve a healthy and spotless complexion can be found in the new skin handbook Spotless - The Essential Guide to Getting Rid of Spots and Acne RRP £10.
00 and available from all good high street and online bookstores worldwide.