TEENAGE spots is not a topic that usually comes within the remit of this column. In much the same way as young girls looking for beauty tips would not necessarily choose that august journal the Times as their first port of call.

I am reliably informed by those closer to the scene, they would opt for glossies like Just 17, Bliss or Sugar or other titles foreign to anyone older than 21.

However the two of us can now combine - that's the Times and me - to bring some exciting news to the iPod generation. Because it appears Worcester is leading the way when it comes to teenage style and beauty advice.

In fact, pre-teenage style and beauty advice, because some of the youngsters at Judy Owens' style and advice workshops are as young as 11.

"Children grow up quicker these days," said Judy, pointing out the pretty obvious, just in case the bloke sitting opposite hadn't caught on. "And they are more interested in their appearance at a younger age."

So when they reach double figures, out go the skipping ropes in comes the skin care. You can probably blame it all on the Spice Girls, who, in their first incarnation of girl power' back in 1994, had a target audience of 10-year-old girls. Suddenly all these pouting, attitude-charged, pre-teens sprouted up and the difficult period' for parents arrived four years earlier than it had for generations.

Anyway, that's history, but the fallout has seen a massive increase in girls using beauty products at a younger age than they used to.

Which is where Judy comes in. Because she believes she is the only expert in the country offering specialised advice to young people - both girls and boys - on how to care for their skin and how to use cosmetics.

Usually workshops are run at her shop You in Friar Street, Worcester (www.youisforyou.com), but her story was picked up by the Times and she was invited to London recently to show the metropolitan elite there are progressive thinkers north of Watford.

An account of one of Judy's Teenage Style and Image Workshops appeared in the paper written by a 15-year-old girl and although there were a couple of fairly basic errors - like the time and the cost - the publicity did her no harm at all.

A quartet of Worcester's leading schools are now likely to invite her to organise advice sessions for students and places on her next workshop in Friar Street, during the half-term holidays in the middle of February, are booking up fast.

"I'm passionate about this," she added. "Girls are maturing earlier these days. They are reaching puberty at a younger age than they used to with all the hormonal changes that brings. You are not going to stop them thinking about their appearance, in the way girls of my generation did when we got to 16 or 17.

"The important thing is to make sure they get proper advice and do it right. There are so many products out there that if used wrongly or too enthusiastically, can ruin a young girl's complexion."

I'm not going into the whole gamut of female make-up here, but according to Judy, one of the common misconceptions young girls make is that oily skins cause spots. So they buy a chemical based product that strips the moisture from the skin, dries it out and leaves it worse than before.

"Skin needs moisture," she explained. "There are all sorts of reasons why young people get blemishes (she doesn't call them spots), so we need to talk through their lifestyle and health issues before we reach any conclusions."

And never, ever squeeze spots.

"It might seem tempting, but remember, for what you can see above the surface, there is just as much below and if you squeeze you will spread the infection and it only pops up elsewhere."

Another take on the "it would never have happened in my day" scenario is that teenage boys are now calling on Judy for advice on how to tackle spots and tips on personal grooming. We tried to get one to pose for a photograph, but eventually decided against. After all, there are still some things, even today, you don't tell your mates or publicise too widely.

All the products Judy uses are chemical-free and made only from natural ingredients. Her workshops, which feature a range of experts, contain advice for girls on bra-fitting and choosing the right style of clothes for their body shape, hygiene, cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturising.

They are aimed at girls aged between 11-17. But isn't 11 a bit too young to start? I mean, an 11-year-old waxing her eyebrows?

"It is up to the individual," she stressed. "Some come in with their mothers, who are our clients, and ask for advice while they're with mum. They go to school, tell their friends about it and then drop in of their own accord. Remember, we are talking skincare here and simple, effective make-up for the person concerned. We would never advocate going over the top or breaking any school rules. If youngsters are going to try it anyway, they should be shown the best and safest way for when they do." Difficult to argue with that, although postings on our website' might try.