Yes I would agree with you CynicAI, the spots are definitely hormonal rather than diet related. What I don't like about the diet suggestions, is that they tend to send teens into a frenzy of eating-related disorders (fueled by the fact that they start imagining that the food and not the hormones, are causing the spots, and so become food obsessed).
We all knew some of those 'absolute little shits, with clear skin', and those that I knew did not follow especially healthy diets either.
And so my advice to you possum, is to get yourself a gentle (sensitive skin-type) exfoliating face wash from the supermarket. Don't waste your bucks on big cosmetic company brand names which wont do any different.
And then see if you can find (in a health store) something called 'Effective Microorganisms' which you dilute with dechlorinated water, and then splash onto your skin.
Here's why: The increased hormonal fluctuations cause an increase of 'matter' coming out of the skins pores. This 'matter' (dead skin cells, sebum etc, is fodder for bacterium's to feed upon, and make trouble.
EM's are a 'good bacteria' culture, which greatly hinder the 'bad bacteria' who are busy having a party on your face.
So when you splash-on some of EM's
good bacteria culture, its kind of like sending in the parents to tell everybody to quieten down, behave, or go away!
One problem about using all this clearasil-type crap, is that because its able to 'kill off ' the bacteria on the skins surface, it also will irritate tender young skin. And then a vicious circle begins as more dead cells etc make way for the next party-on-your-face, because the 'bad bacteria' are the first to get back to work again.
Just remember that bacteria is a necessary part of life, we just need to balance the good with the bad.
Good luck, and I hope this helps...
(PS Mod's:
Sorry, I've just realised I've gone off topic
should I have ignored the request for help with spots?
)