The doc replies

What are liver spots, and can I rid myself of them?

Liver spots are flat, brown patches that look a bit like freckles but are usually much bigger. They gradually evolve in some us as we get older. Often liver spots appear as a result of past sun exposure. They don’t tend to cause any harm but some people find them a little bit unsightly. On the NHS we don’t tend to do anything about them but there are some private clinics that will offer treatments. If you have any other skin lesions which are different, I would certainly recommend getting them checked out by your GP.

Someone recommended I try a high-fibre diet. What is this?

A high-fibre diet, generally speaking, involves eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, pulses, beans and wholemeal bread, pastas, rices, and so on. High-fibre diets can be useful, in particular for our digestive system. They are also thought to be benefits and, long-term, a high-fibre diet can potentially reduce the risk of cancer or heart disease. In real life, if you generally have your five fruit and veg a day and switch any white breads, pastas, rices and the like to wholemeal versions, that should be good enough.

I had a tooth infection, which was treated, but a few days later I developed a kidney infection. Could the two conditions have been linked?

The kidney infection may be related to the tooth problem, particularly if there are any problems with kidney disease.

You should see your doctor if you think you have a kidney infection.