THE DOC REPLIES
I’M a 32-year-old woman who’s recently given birth. My hair fell out in patches around the back and side – is this normal and will it grow back?
It is common and normal for women to experience some hair loss in the year after having given birth. This is because the body prioritises growing the baby rather than growing hair. Normally, the missing hair will eventually return. MY teenage grandson still wets the bed in his sleep. Are you aware if this is a common problem, and do you have you any advice on helping him to stop?
Bed-wetting, or enuresis as it is also known, can be a very distressing problem, particularly beyond the age of five – but especially if it happens into the teenage years. Even if you think it might be an anxiety or emotional problem, it is always worthwhile getting a urine sample checked in case of infection and, in rare instances, kidney or bladder problems. Ask him to speak to the doctor with you. I have a patch of yellow in the corner of my eye – my optician says it is due to high cholesterol. Will it go away if I eat more healthily?
A yellowy-grey arc around the iris is known as an arcus, and can sometimes be caused by having high cholesterol. You should have a cholesterol and lipid profile checked as you may need statin drug therapy if high levels puts you at risk of heart disease. HAVE you any experience of laser eye treatment? I’m shortsighted and want to try it but have heard some horror stories.
Laser eye treatment is now commonly used to correct simple visual problems and avoid the need for glasses. Take your time, seek the opinion of your own optician and/or GP before embarking on any private therapy. Most cases are successful, but all intervention procedures carry a risk of harm and you need to know what this might mean for you. IS there any way to permanently remove hair on the upper lip? I’m a 56-year-old woman.
Hair removal can be done via wax, cosmetic hair removal cream and, in extreme cases, laser therapy. However, there is no guarantee that any treatment will be permanent – hair can eventually grow back. WHAT organs are affected by Crohn’s disease?
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, beginning at the mouth, moving down through the gullet into the stomach, small intestine, large intestine and anus. Flare-ups of Crohn’s disease can make a person generally unwell and cause a variety of symptoms. MY husband shaves with just water – no soap or cream. Is this bad for the skin?
Some men shave just using water, or a dry shave, and this causes no harm to their skin. Others prefer to use moisturiser. Your husband is safe to use whatever method he feels comfortable with. HOW do you treat a collapsed lung?
A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax as it is known, is where air leaks from the lung in between the two layers of pleura – the lining which surrounds and protects the lungs. The pleural layers resemble a double layer of polythene black bag. Mild cases get better on their own, but cases causing shortness of breath require a chest drain in hospital. WHY are some babies born with a cleft lip?
This happens while the baby is developing in the womb. As the face develops these natural clefts at either side of the lip join up and most babies are born without any deformity. Sometimes, exposure to different chemicals can increase the chance of this happening. It is surgically treatable and nowadays correction can be extremely good. Sometimes, it can also affects the palate which can be a trickier problem to treat, but again, is usually able to be repaired.