London - Over many troubled years, my spotty skin has caused me to cancel countless dates, numerous nights out and even job interviews.
Acne dogged my thoughts before I even opened my eyes in the morning, but as I entered my forties I thought the bad skin that had blighted my life since my teenage years would be long gone.
But it wasn’t. Indeed, the misery of adult acne cast such a shadow over my life that I felt a particular sadness when I read about an 18-year-old schoolgirl who hanged herself after spiralling into depression because of severe acne.
I can fully understand her despair.
Until six months ago, when I finally found the answer to my problem, the spots were worst on my face. But I also had acne on my chest and back, which meant that the state of my skin always dictated what I could wear.
It is painful, embarrassing and disfiguring, and the scarring often takes months to fade.
No wonder sufferers are willing to invest hope and hard cash in the latest remedy, as a result of which the global anti-acne industry was worth nearly £2 billion in 2009.
As celebrity acne sufferers including Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Cameron Diaz can no doubt testify, no amount of make-up will ever conceal a spot effectively.
To make matters worse, my skin is oily, so even thick foundations and heavy powders didn’t take the shine off my face for long.
It came as little surprise to me when I learnt that stress and depression are among the associated symptoms of continued acne.
As a professional who takes pride in her appearance, I thought it was remarkably unfair that I was still suffering from what is usually thought of as a teenage complaint.
But latest statistics show that 50 percent of women get acne at some point in their adult life, with the condition becoming increasingly prevalent in women in their twenties, thirties, forties, even older.
Most skin experts believe an increase in the male hormone testosterone is the main cause. It creates an excess of sebum, an oily/waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands to lubricate the skin. Too much of it causes a build-up of oil and dead skin cells in hair follicle pores. Bacteria make their way to the blockage, and the growth in bacteria causes acne.
Many facets of modern life are also thought to exacerbate it, including junk food, excessive sugar consumption, hormone imbalances and stress.
There’s also a growing school of thought that acne is genetic, which strikes a chord with me.
While lamenting my latest acne breakout to my glamorous 62-year-old aunt last year, I was amazed to discover that she still gets the occasional spot.
During the 25 years I spent battling my dreaded spots, I tried practically every treatment going, from prescription drugs, face lotions and potions to alternative therapies.
As every hoped-for cure failed, I sank ever deeper into despair and frustration.
My war against acne began not long after my 15th birthday, with the first of many severe attacks during adolescence. I had spots everywhere: along my hairline, on my chin and around my nose.
Our GP merely prescribed “some sunshine”.
I was depressed, and my worst fears about my spots making me unlovable were confirmed when my first boyfriend dumped me for a girl with a perfect complexion.
My 18th birthday party was also marred by my skin. By then I’d worked out my acne was connected to my menstrual cycle. I had two weeks of clearish skin, followed by two weeks of eruptions. A different doctor prescribed three months of tetracycline, a commonly prescribed antibiotic effective in the treatment of acne.
But because it takes months to work and I was young and looking for a quick fix, I didn’t finish the course.
In my twenties a homeopath recommended a lengthy and difficult detox that involved cutting out wheat, dairy, carbohydrates, sugar and alcohol.
Dermatologists now recognise that sugar-based foods can trigger acne, and my new diet worked in the short term. But, as a vegetarian, I found the diet too restrictive, and as soon as I started eating normally again, the acne came back.
It was some years later, while I was working in the looks-obsessed world of television, I reached breaking point.
Just minutes before a big meeting with a broadcaster, my male boss looked me up and down and informed me, rather brutally, that I’d reach a higher rung on the career ladder if I “sorted my skin out”. I was devastated, particularly since the stress of work had contributed to a bad outbreak on my cheeks.
Soon afterwards, and at my wits’ end, I started taking the contraceptive pill Dianette, which suppresses testosterone. It proved to be my salvation. For 10 years it helped me maintain the smooth, alabaster complexion of Nicole Kidman.
But I had to stop taking it in my mid-thirties to try for a baby, naively assuming that after being acne-free for so long it was behind me.
Three months later, my spots were back with a vengeance. My husband was horrified, joking that he’d never have married me if he’d realised I had such a condition.
My doctor suggested Roaccutane, a highly effective drug for skin conditions. But it also damages the natural enzymes in the liver, creating the risk of back pain, digestive problems, severe lethargy, and even depression and suicidal tendencies.
My main reason for declining was that it is known to cause birth defects, which is why doctors now put women taking Roaccutane on birth control.
Instead, I used antibiotic skin creams, which helped to minimise my acne. I even went on holiday to India specifically to buy Retin-A, an anti-ageing cream also used for acne. It’s available only on prescription in Britain.
The breakthrough came last year: a skincare range called Proactiv. Within a month my spots had dried up, and the shiny patches that showed through my make-up were gone. Six months later, my skin has improved significantly. Today, at 41, I can finally see the upside of having naturally oily skin – hopefully wrinkles will take that bit longer to form. – Daily Mail