Under the skin

Upper and lower forehead

• Problem Organs: Spots on the upper forehead are linked to bladder problems; and on the lower forehead to the intestines.
• Lifestyle imbalances: You could be eating too much sugar, milk, juices, red meat, saturated fats and proteins or taking a lot of drugs or medications.

• Solution: Your body is having trouble eliminating the above foods from your body - cutting down on these foods should help with detoxification.

Between the eyebrows

• Problem Organs: Liver
• Lifestyle imbalances: You could be eating too much fat, fried foods, dairy products or drinking too much alcohol.

• Solution: Instead of frying, try grilling or baking food, or stir-fry with olive oil. Also, the liver symbolises anger and frustration - suppressing these emotions can lead to an imbalance in liver energy, which eventually shows up as spots. Herbal remedies commonly used in the treatment of liver conditions include Chinese angelica and white peony

Under the eyes

• Problem Organs: Kidneys
• Lifestyle imbalances: You may be stressed, not getting enough sleep and eating a poor diet

• Solution: Small spots under the eyes indicate weak kidney energy, which may be due to the lifestyle factors above. Try to curb your excesses. A Chinese practitioner can also prescribe an appropriate tonic to boost kidney energy.

Cheeks, chest and upper back

• Problem Organs: Lungs
• Lifestyle imbalances: Too much sugar and dairy products and not enough leafy vegetables and fruit. Smoking.

• Solution: Dairy products lead to a build up in phlegm, so cut them out, while leafy veg and fruit are "lung-nourishing". If you smoke, give up now! Take more exercise. Herbal remedies mulberry, fennel and skullcap may help - consult a Chinese medicine practitioner. Lung problems are associated with suppressed grief - you may need to express these emotions (by talking to friends, for instance) to promote better energy flow.

Upper part of nose

• Problem Organs: Spleen
• Lifestyle imbalances: You may have blood-sugar imbalances caused by eating a diet high in refined foods and sugar.

• Solution: Cut out alcohol and eat regularly throughout the day to keep blood-sugar levels stable.

Tip of nose

• Problem Organs: Heart
• Lifestyle imbalances: A healthy heart ensures the smooth flow of blood around the body - which keeps skin healthy. A sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and poor diet impair heart function, leading to poor circulation, so skin suffers.

• Solution: Making an effort to tackle your exercise and diet deficiencies will help, and acupuncture and herbs, such as crataegus (hawthorn), will also strengthen heart energy

Lips and shoulders

• Problem: Digestive system - you may suffer from indigestion or constipation.
• Lifestyle imbalances: Not enough fibre, vegetables and fruit.

• Solution: Eat more of the above foods and try to avoid any that trigger indigestion. You could try drinking green tea as a digestive after meals, and there are many digestive herbs, which a practitioner can prescribe. Chinese dietary remedies for constipation include fig wine, white rice porridge and stewed pears, while t'ai chi exercises can help alleviate tension in the digestive area. Emotionally, you may be holding on too much to past resentments or regrets - learn to let go.

Chin and jaw line

• Problem: Reproductive system
• Lifestyle imbalances: You're probably overdoing tea, coffee, alcohol and red meat.

• Solution: Avoid processed foods and stimulants, such as caffeine, as they contain chemicals that may affect your hormone balance. Herbs such as dong quai (angelica root) for women can help rebalance the system. It's common to get spots before a period, when hormones fluctuate, or you may have a slight imbalance. If spots persist in this area, it's probably a good idea to have a proper medical check-up to make sure you're not suffering from a condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome.