I have developed red bumps on my upper arms. They feel a bit rough to touch but I have no other symptoms. How can I get rid of them?
There is a rash that appears as red bumps on the upper arms called keratosis pilaris.
It affects more than four in ten adults and is caused by a build-up of keratin, a protein in the skin. Too much keratin can block the hair follicles, causing lots of bumps that look like goosebumps. As well as the arms, it appears on the legs, buttocks and back.
It can feel rough and is usually worse in winter when the skin is drier. It is harmless and also not infectious. However, it can look unsightly and it can be itchy.
The first step to tackling keratosis pilaris is using an emollient, a medical moisturiser that can be purchased in most high street pharmacies. Those that contain the ingredient salicylic acid, such as CeraVe SA, are particularly good as they soften and flatten bumps on the skin. Moisturisers that contain something called urea are similarly useful.
Keratosis pilaris affects more than four in ten adults and is caused by a build-up of keratin, a protein in the skin
If these don’t do the trick, then prescription creams that soften the skin, such as steroids and retinoids, can help. Many patients say that regularly applying gentle exfoliating scrubs can tackle the dry skin.
Patients are also advised to have short showers in lukewarm water as hot water can inflame the skin. Using a humidifier to add moisture to the air in the bedroom can also help.
However, before trying any of these steps, it’s important to get a definitive keratosis pilaris diagnosis from a GP. This can often be done virtually, by sending pictures of the rash.
My wife, 80, is constantly suffering from shingles. She had the old shingles vaccine some years ago. Would she benefit from the improved vaccine the NHS is rolling out?
The new shingles vaccine is highly effective but the NHS has limitations on who can access it.
Singles is the reactivation of the chickenpox virus that remains in the body after infection, which usually occurs during childhood.
In later life, when the immune system weakens, the virus can reappear, causing a painful blister rash on the face and chest. Sometimes it can lead to terrible chronic nerve pain too.
Until recently, the NHS offered a shingles vaccine called Zostavax, which is around 40 per cent effective at preventing the blister condition. This protection also wanes over time.
Since 2023, the NHS has been offering a vaccine called Shingrix, which is as much as 97 per cent effective and is thought to remain protective for longer than Zostavax.
However, at present, only patients between the ages of 70 and 80 are offered Shingrix on the NHS – as well as people turning 65. Patients are only eligible up to their 80th birthday as there is limited data on how effective it is for older patients. Moreover, if patients had Zostavax in the past decade, they can’t get Shingrix.
Thankfully, there are a few exceptions to these limitations.
Since the beginning of this month, anyone 18 and over who is severely immuno-suppressed – meaning that their ability to fight off infections is weakened either by health problems such as cancer or by immune-system suppressing medicines – can now get Shingrix regardless of how old they are.
If patients received Zostavax before 2013 and now meet the NHS criteria for vaccination, or if they have become severely immuno-suppressed since they had the old jab, then they can also get Shingrix.
It’s quite a confusing system, so it’s worth discussing the options with a GP.
What’s more, if patients can’t get the jab on the NHS, they can also pay for it. Most pharmacies offer the Shingrix vaccine for around £460 for the two doses. And anyone over 50 can pay for it, even if they have previously had the Zostavax vaccine.
I suffered a stroke three years ago and now have incontinence. Is it true that HRT can help tackle this?
Women who develop incontinence as a result of a stroke are unlikely to see any improvement from hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
It’s true that the female sex hormone oestrogen – which, along with progesterone, is in HRT – can improve bladder issues. However, this is typically when the incontinence is caused by the menopause.
When the amount of oestrogen in the body falls at this time in a woman’s life, the structure of the bladder can weaken, meaning that urine can leak out – this is usually referred to as stress incontinence.
Taking replacement oestrogen can help combat this specific problem but it won’t help if the incontinence is caused by brain damage brought on by a stroke.
Most areas of the country will have NHS local bladder services, where patients can be taught pelvic floor exercises to help tackle incontinence.
What’s your natural cure for achy knees?
Losing weight, physiotherapy and regular exercise are all proven to help improve the painful symptoms of osteoarthritis as well as reducing the risk of surgery
I worry that not enough osteoarthritis patients realise there are steps they can take to avoid knee replacement surgery.
I see newly diagnosed patients with the agonising joint condition every week at my clinic. Many tell me they fear they’re on a one-way trip to requiring surgery, with knee and hip replacements the procedures they dread the most.
However, only around a tenth of osteoarthritis sufferers will go on to have surgery. Losing weight, physiotherapy and regular exercise are all proven to help improve the painful symptoms as well as reducing the risk of surgery.
There are also popular supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin that, while not backed by medical research, many patients swear by.
Have you found a natural solution that helps to manage your osteoarthritis? Please write in and let me know.
Our hidden drinking problem
There’s a fairly new concept called grey area drinking.
The NHS recommends no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, as more than this amount raises the risk of serious diseases like cancer.
People who regularly surpass this amount but don’t consider themselves to be dependent on alcohol are now being labelled grey area drinkers. This means that their booze habit is harmful, even if it doesn’t appear obviously self-destructive or dangerous.
I suspect there are millions of grey area drinkers, many of whom could benefit from learning how to cut down on their alcohol intake. This might involve tactics such as keeping a weekly alcohol diary to identify patterns, or setting drink-free days of the week.
Do you think you are a grey area drinker? Have you taken steps to cut down? Please let me know using the email address below.
Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk. Dr Cannon cannot enter into personal correspondence and her replies should be taken in a general context.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .