Body Talk: March 30, 2005

Straighten me out on HRT wrinkle cure

I HAVE finished my periods and no longer have any menopausal problems except that I have noticed my skin is more wrinkled and I seem to be more sensitive to the sun.

My doctor has suggested a low dose of HRT but I’m unsure. What else I can do?

Maggie, 59, Swindon

GP Dr Shirley Bond says: I do not think HRT is the answer to this problem. The skin changes you are experiencing are due to an increase in free radicals.

These are substances that are responsible for most of the changes we associate with ageing. They are dealt with in our bodies by antioxidants.

You can increase your intake of these by eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg – blueberries are packed with antioxidants.

Pomegranates and prunes are also rich in them. You can also take a supplement containing Selenium, vitamins A, C and E.

Itching to try a new remedy

I keep getting thrush and take Diflucan. It works but is there anything else you can suggest?

Suzy, 28, Dorset

Nick Mortimer, pharmacist at Lloyds, says: There are several things that can increase your chances of suffering from thrush, such as tight clothing, using perfumed bath additives and taking steroids, antibiotics or the contraceptive pill.

If, however you suffer from thrush more than twice in six months, you should visit your GP as recurrent thrush is sometimes symptomatic of other conditions, such as diabetes. Your local pharmacist will be able to discuss this with you in privacy in their consultation area and might even be able to offer you a free diabetes screening to allay any fears.

If you continue to purchase over-the-counter remedies, there are cheaper alternatives to Diflucan that a healthcare assistant can recommend.Write to Body Talk, The Mirror, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP, or email bodytalk@mirror.co.uk (sorry, we can’t answer letters personally).