I'd like to share a quick story about my experience with acne over the last few years in the off chance that it may help someone or prove to be a source of inspiration to show that it can be defeated.

Throughout my teenage years I had great skin, no problems with spots, blemishes - anything. This all change when I hit my mid twenties.

I started to get a lot of tiny spots mainly on my forehead but also over the rest of my face. At the time I wasn't really concerned as I just generally presumed that this happened to everyone and that mine had just arrived later on in life.

A year rolled by and I was still in the same predicament, although now they were coming up as whiteheads.

Now to give you an idea of my lifestyle, i'm not a member of gym but do walk everywhere, I eat well (not incredibly healthy, but not McDonalds every day either) and i drink lots of water. Pretty average if you ask me. My skin type is pretty in-between as well. Not too oily, not too dry.

After the whiteheads started appearing I did what probably 99% of people would do in that situation and went to the nearest pharmacy to buy your typical off the shelf spot treatment, which I applied ASAP.

It seemed to do nothing. Maybe even made them worse. In hindsight I probably didn't give it long enough but on the packaging it said 'overnight'. How long was I realistically going to wait!?

More and more appeared and even though i'd read over a thousand times on the internet not to pop them, I gave in and did (mainly because I was embarrassed going out with them all over my face and also because not being a girl I couldn't cover them up with make up). So yeah, i decided enough was enough and one day stood in front of a mirror, they all went.

Looking back, I can honestly say that this was the one thing I regret doing as I now realise it can damage the skin underneath and can lead to scarring, blemishes, and ultimately more spots. At the time I guess I just didn't care, I wanted them gone. Quick.

It was a temporary solution as more came back and I found myself at square one again. This time I went back to the pharmacy to buy a different product that promised me similar things to the first and it would clear my face up in a matter of weeks. I'm sure you all know whats coming. Correct, it did no such thing.

Now I read that different products work for different people, so i soldiered on trying to find mine.

I never kept track of the amount of money I spent on skin products (I actually dread to think!) but I can honestly say that I don't think I noticed any difference from any of them (apart from one, which i'll get to).

8 months in to the second year and I was running out of things to try. More products, more money - gels, creams, sprays, tablets, oils - I drastically changed my diet cutting out all processed food, fats, sugar and only eating 'skin clearing foods' (i'd read a few times that forehead spots are linked with the digestive system - still not sure if this is true). I even started running and exercising.

Again, no joy.

Finally I went to the doctor - I actually don't know why i didn't do this any sooner - presumably because i thought they'd tell me what i already knew, and they actually did. But as well as that, she gave me a prescription for an oral drug called Tetralysal.

One a day, I was prescribed an 8 week course and told not to use any of the things i'd been buying on my face. So I did.

I was incredible! Buy the second week the spots I had were retreating and any new ones were nowhere to be seen. I actually couldn't believe it - mainly that something had actually worked!

The end of the 8 weeks has recently passed and apart from a few blemishes (where I had previously popped them all) my skin is pretty much back to normal.

I now stick to a strict facial cleaning routine, which includes 'Simple - Oil balancing skin wipes' followed by a thin layer of 'Dermalogica overnight clearing gel'. I have purchased more Tetralysal and will slowly ween myself off them in the hope my skin stays the same.

The only concern I have today is that I never found out the root problem as to what was causing my acne and I hope the Tetralysal is not only a temporary solution. I suppose only time will tell.

I would list every product i've used but I don't think it's worth doing as I think the most important thing i've learned from this whole experience, and i'd read it before, is that everyone is different.

Certain products/regimes will work for some people, others won't. You've just got to keep trying until you find yours.