Ask Marilyn – is there anything I can do for sore, dry skin?
Q: I am 53 years old and have gone through the menopause. My skin, especially my face, is terribly dry and very sore. Is there anything I can do to alleviate the discomfort please?
A: Many of my patients complain about skin problems during and after the menopause and in next month’s issues I’ll be devoting a feature to the problem with advice about natural ways to prevent and treat it, so do be sure to check that out. In the meantime, make sure you drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day and avoid caffeine in tea and coffee as it is dehydrating. If you smoke, make plans to stop. Drink nettle tea every day (teabags available in health stores) and take 1,000mg of fish oil every day. You could also add in a good ‘skin’ supplement, which can also benefit your hair and nails. Good ingredients include horsetail which is a natural form of silica which forms part of all connective tissue, vitamin E for the maintenance and growth of the skin and zinc for cell growth. (see Hair and Nail supplement on the Resources Page). Any improvements you make in your diet, such as avoiding junk food and fried food, will also benefit your skin.