A spot of trouble with freckles
Q: I HAVE a lot of freckles on my face. I find this embarrassing. Some of them go away in the winter but they always return in the summertime. Is there any treatment for removing them? Dr Rose writes: Freckles appear as tiny round or oval patches on the skin. They tend to be more numerous in fair-skinned and red-haired people but they do occur in Asians. This tendency is thought to be inherited. they are not cancerous and are thereforeof no real concern other than cosmetic.
People with freckles should avoid spending too much time in the sun. If you go out in the sun, wear sunscreen lotion or a hat to shield your face.
You can ask your doctor about dermabrasion, a form of cosmetic surgery used to remove the upper skin layers to improve the appearance of skin blemishes. However, unless the freckles are disfiguring, the operation, which is fairly costly, takes about two months before the full effect is apparent and may not be warranted. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may have other suggestions.
Q: I AM one of your faithful readers of the baby boomer generation. I am only in my early 40s. For the past year I have noticed a general weakness in my groin area when passing urine and during an erection. I also fail to experience any pleasure during ejaculation. What can I do to deal with this problem? Dr Rose writes: Erection problems may be due to either physical or psychological reasons or a combination of both. The majority are psychological. Almost all erection problems can be successfully treated.
Testosterone is one of the male sex hormones responsible for stimulating bone and muscle growth and sexual development. As men grow older they experience a gradual decline in testosterone. However, unless they are affected by serious illness or disease they will continue to produce testosterone, sperm and semen throughout their lives.
There are many new treatments for enhancing erectile stiffness including drugs which increase blood flow to the penis, devices to cause blood vessels to become engorged and prosthetic devices and pumps.