In fact it was a genetic predisposition she had to dermatitis passed on to her baby daughter that led Karen on the path to becoming an advocate for healthy eating.

Karen is a nutritionist specialising in skin conditions and her first book, The Healthy Skin Diet, has recently been published.

"I had always had bad skin and I started writing the book when I passed on my bad skin genes to my daughter,'' she explained.

"You cannot change a genetic tendency but you can control the food you eat.

"Great skin comes from great digestion. Bad skin is a result of not digesting foods properly and eliminating wastes.''

Parramatta residents will be able to get some advice and a few tips on healthy eating from Karen when she does a lunch time author talk at Parramatta Library on Tuesday, July 22 at 1pm.

The talks are on Tuesdays at the Library and feature Australian authors.

Details: www.parracity.nsw.gov.au.