The Australian Women\'s Weekly - June 2018

156 The Australian Women’s Weekly|JUNE 2018

Medical Q&A

PROFESSOR PHELPS: PHOTOGRAPHY BY YIA

NNI ASPRADAKIS. GETTY IMAGES.

If you have a question

for Professor Kerryn

Phelps, write to:

Ask The Doctor,

GPO Box 4178,

Sydney, NSW 2001

or email openline@

bauer-media.com.au.

Letters cannot

be answered personally.

See page 208 for

Bauer Media Limited’s

Privacy Notice.

Q

I am a vibrant

woman of 86 years

old. While I’m not

the raging beauty

I once was, I am interested in

caring for and protecting my

skin. How can you make the

most of your skin when

you’re in your 80s?K.H., WA.

Skin health is internal and

external. The “inner glow” comes

from lifestyle decisions like a

healthy diet, minimal or no

alcohol and never smoking.

Protection from the sun is

important at all ages and

moisturising twice daily more

important with advancing age.

You can ask your doctor about

a prescription cream called

tretinoin (a form of Vitamin A)

which can reduce the

appearance of wrinkles and

discoloration from sun damage.

Q

I’ve tried every diet

imaginable and I

can’tseemtolose

weight. I’m not an

overeater, I don’t snack. I’ve

eliminated foods like sugar and

bread and my weight’s barely

budged, whereas other people’s

would have fallen. Could there

be another reason?H.P., Vic.

See your doctor to check for

medical conditions such as

underactive thyroid, insulin

resistance and polycystic ovary

syndrome. You may need to

increase the amount of exercise

you do. It may be that the food

you are eating is more than your

metabolism needs. Alcohol is also

often a source of extra kilojoules.

There are numerous

causes of hearing

loss. Some forms are

genetic while others

include toxicity from

particular medications,

damage from industrial

noise, autoimmune

inner ear disease, viral

infections andageing.

Protect your hearing

by avoiding loud noise

or wearing protective

ear muffs or plugs

when exposed to

prolonged noise.

Q

I took HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to

manage menopause for nearly 20 years until

a few years ago, when my doctor advised me

to stop. Before I started my bones were terrible.

Today, I’ve lost 5cm in height but kept my hair and am

still regaining health. Did the prolonged period of taking

HRT protect my bones in any shape or form?J.C., SA.

Bone breakdown causes osteoporosis, which increases the

risk of a fracture. HRT can slow bone loss and new research

shows that in some cases, HRT can improve bone density

and structure in women after menopause and up to age 60.

There are specific osteoporosis treatments which may be

more suitable for you now, so discuss the risks and

benefits with your GP.

Ask the

doctor

HAVEa

QUESTION?

with PROFESSOR KERRYN PHELPS

DID YOU

KNOW?

Q

I love fruit, but I sometimes

get hives from it due to its

salicylate content. Do you

have any recommendations?

And does it matter if the fruit is ripe or

unripened?S.S., NSW.

Fruits highest in salicylates include

apples, apricots, berries andcherries.

Interestingly, the salicylate level in fruits

and vegetables is higher when they

are unripe and decreases as they ripen.

I advise you to see a dietician to work

out your food allergies. Keep an

antihistamine handy if you get hives.