Hi, I'm wondering if you've had a definite diagnosis as to the cause of your knee and toe pain, as that will determine the best way to manage it? It could be due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or even gout. Given that the pain in your toe is so severe it's preventing you from walking and th...

Hi, Experts advise staying mobile, so try to move around gently as soon as you can. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkiller like ibuprofen often helps with acute back pain - if you're able to take it, otherwise paracetamol can be effective. Applying heat (a heated wheat pillow/hot water bot...

Hi Julian, I'm sorry to hear that you feel that pain is ruining your life. I myself suffer from herniated discs in my neck due to osteoarthritis, so I can speak from experience when I say that there are practical things you can do to help yourself. Exercise can help with pain tremendously because it...

Hi Jan, As well as keeping active/doing particular exercises/stretches as suggested by Guy, you can also help yourself by watching your diet. The most important aspect of this is watching your weight, as being overweight puts extra strain on weight-bearing joints like your back, knees, hips, feet an...

Hi, I'm sorry to hear that you're at the end of your tether having suffered from acne for such a long time, but please don't give up - I'm sure you will find a treatment that works. I think there are three main areas to focus on - your skin care regime, your hormones and your diet. As you say your s...

Hi, I'm sorry to hear that you're still finding stretch marks are a problems 11 years after you gave birth. By moisturising your skin regularly you have obviously done your best to help the marks to fade - unfortunately there isn't much more you can do. My best advice would be to change your attitud...

Hi, The condition you describe on your right foot sounds like dyshydrotic dermatitis - also known as pompholyx; this causes many of the symptoms you describe - intense itching and burning, followed by tiny blisters which can ooze and become infected if burst. Although you say you have also had probl...

Hi, Unfortunately the latest guidelines from National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state that there is no such thing as a safe tan. However, we all need to get the sun on our skin for up to 15 minutes daily to ensure we produce enough vitamin D - which is difficult to get from food...

Hi, To avoid irritating skin that is already sore and inflamed avoid perfumed skin care products/cosmetics. Other ingredients to avoid include glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids, as they may be too harsh. It's probably wise to opt for hypoallergenic skin care products and cosmetics, as these are m...

Hi, These spots could have a number of causes - including seborrhoeic dermatitis, or folliculitis. Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a form of eczema caused by a yeast overgrowth that mainly affects the scalp, but can also spread to oily parts of the face, such as the sides of the nose. It causes the scalp ...