IT'S every teenager's dream - a cure for spots.

Now a mother who says her youth was "destroyed" by acne claims she has come up with a plan to help others banish the pimples.

Elaine Mummery, 40, suffered from severe spots from the age of 13, which lasted more than a decade.

She cancelled dates and nights out because of her acne. One boy told her, "You would be pretty if you didn't have bad skin".

But after years of trying prescription creams and drugs, Elaine finally worked out her spots were being caused by certain foods - and not necessarily chocolate, as is often believed.

She is now determined to share the secret with other sufferers and has spent 15 years researching and writing a book, Spotless.

Mrs Mummery, from Helensburgh, said: "People judge you from your appearance.

"Sometimes I wished I hadn't been born, but I never seriously thought about taking my own life because I knew if my acne could get better I would love my life.

"I wrote the book so I can help people going through what I went through."

Acne is a condition usually linked to teenagers, with raging hormones blamed for pimples. But as many as 40% of adults also suffer from spots.

Mrs Mummery says hormones can be to blame, but conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and candidiasis - when the bad bacteria in the gut destroys the good - also cause spots.

She said: "What you eat affects your hormones. If you tend to eat refined foods - white bread, sugary drinks, fast food - your body digests it very quickly.

"Because of that it raises your blood sugar levels and to correct that your body produces insulin. That insulin raises your testosterone levels and that produces sebum, which clogs your pores and causes acne."

Some of her tips for beating acne are: Use natural skincare products and avoid harsh medicated acne skin care. Low GI foods such as brown bread and brown rice are better because your body digests them slower. Eat food that contains vitamins and minerals.

For more info, see www.clinicforacne.com

Spotless, £10, can be had from the website, Borders and Amazon.