So we were talking, and someone said, “You spend a lot of time at your PC. So do I. Why have I got spots, and you haven't?"

Fair question.

Acne can strike teens, adults, even babies! As far as I can make out, it’s partially age linked, partially hereditary (if your relatives are spotty you’re odds on to be zit territory), possibly hormonal, not reliably linked to diet, dirtiness or sexual practices, and not curable. Luckily, acne IS controllable/ treatable.

If you are suffering from acne outbreaks at the computer, and they are giving you grief, consider the following possible acne causes:

- Stress has a strong linkage to acne outbreaks, especially in adults. What's the cause, can it be eliminated, can it be avoided or can it be reduced? PC, other staff, family, relationships, or something as mundane as heat, humidity and poor ventilation where you are? Sometimes you should walk away from the problem, so you can see the whole picture, break it down and maybe ways of sorting it out.

- Breaks -a good acne remedy is get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sun for a few minutes, Your immune system needs a charge from Mother Nature, and possibly a break with (or away from) other humans. If you can’t get out, at least move away.

-Lack of Hydration. You need plenty of liquid through you to flush out poisons and toxins from your body. Some think that grunge that can't get out any other way will exit through your skin hence pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and to keep you fresh and alert. The best acne treatment is to keep plenty of water/fruit juice/low sugar squashes handy and use them whenever thirst strikes. At the same time, ease back on the stimulants and depressants - coffee, tea, fizzy canned drinks, Beaujolais or buckets of vodka.

- Ladies, are you using oily cosmetics, is it 'that time of the month' or just before, or are you pregnant? That's hormonal (well, the last three are) and will pass. So will the first (probably) if you switch to light or oil less cosmetics, at least for the duration. This will also help you avoid acne cosmetic generally.

- Poor Diet? The jury is out here. May not cause acne directly, but may cause stress, definitely contributes to obesity. So if you are working in what is essentially a low exercise office environment, a good acne remedy might be to go for the healthier low fat option, and eat plenty of vegetables, fruit and low fat protein (fish, meatless protein, chicken, turkey) and ease off on snacking on junk, spicy or highly processed foods, fatty meats and deep fried food.

-Allergies - A rash or eczema is one of the possible symptoms from a reaction to a particular food, and. isn't acne, but can look just as bad. See your doctor if it’s sudden - allergies can develop later in life. Top food allergens are: Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), Fish, Shellfish, Soy products, Wheat products (bread, wheat cereals). Children may grow out of food allergies to milk, eggs, soybean products and wheat. (Please note that a Wheat Allergy is not the same as Gluten Intolerance! Gluten Intolerance also known as Celiac's Disease, is permanent and must be medically managed!) Unfortunately, people RARELY outgrow their allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.

- wash your skin with a gentle cleanser. Don’t scour it. Pick or scratch at your spots. If a few zits appear, try an over the counter remedy and see if they clear up.

- There are conditions such as rosacea that mess your skin but need different treatment. Again if it’s mild and keeps occurring, see your doctor or pharmacist, who can prescribe a topical or intensive treatment. However, for really bad sudden skin outbreaks of any type check straight away with your doctor or dermatologist. Follow what they suggest as a proper acne treatment.

Get your acne treatment at the computer underweight, and you are on course for healthy computing 2006 and beyond!