I’m a woman in my 60s and my hair has started falling out. What can I do to make it stop?
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: There are several treatable causes of hair loss in women, and the most likely starting point is a blood test.
Low ferritin – a protein that stores iron in the body – is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women. This can often be reversed by taking iron supplements.
Thyroid function is also worth checking. An underactive thyroid gland can trigger hair loss, which is tackled with the medicine levothyroxine.
Hair loss at this age can also be linked to falling oestrogen levels. For this reason, some degree of thinning after the menopause is common. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help.
But for some women, coming off HRT can trigger hair loss. This is because hormone levels dip when the drugs are halted. However, for most women, this is temporary and new hair should begin to grow again after a few months.
Another increasingly recognised cause is significant weight loss – including crash or fasting diets, as well as weight-loss injections.
Low ferritin – a protein that stores iron in the body – is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women. This can often be reversed by taking iron supplements
If no underlying medical cause is found, a broad supplement formulated for women’s hair – typically containing B vitamins, iron and zinc – is a reasonable first thing to try. These can be found in high street pharmacies.
An antifungal shampoo from the pharmacist is also worth considering, as fungal scalp infections are a less obvious but treatable cause.
I have had Bell’s palsy for four years. My sense of taste has been deteriorating ever since. At my age, food is one of the only joys left. Is there anything I can do?
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: There are practical steps that can help restore some enjoyment of food, even when taste has been affected by nerve damage.
Bell’s palsy is a neurological condition in which a nerve on one side of the face becomes inflamed or damaged. This causes weakness and drooping of the muscles on that side, but it also affects the mouth – leading to altered or reduced taste and sometimes a dry mouth.
Treatment with steroid tablets can help in the short term, but nerve damage to taste does not always fully recover.
The most useful next step is a referral from a GP to a dietetics service. Dietitians can advise on how to make food more appealing by combining flavours – such as using strong cheeses, spices, condiments such as Worcestershire sauce or mustard, and sharp flavours like citrus.
A lot of the advice out there for people with taste problems has been created for those going through cancer treatment, as chemotherapy can have a damaging effect. There are even cookbooks designed for people with a loss of taste after cancer, but these can also benefit people with nerve damage.
There is also some evidence that hot meals tend to be more flavourful than cold ones.
There are two NHS taste clinics in the UK – one in Birmingham and one in East Anglia – that specialise in diagnosing the cause and extent of taste loss, and can offer targeted advice, though they are unlikely to reverse long-standing nerve damage entirely.
A GP can advise whether a referral would be appropriate.
I broke a toe and it has curled, which makes wearing shoes uncomfortable. What should I do?
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: A misshapen toe is cause to see an orthopaedic surgeon.
Hammer toe is a condition in which one or more toes become fixed in a bent position, usually after repeated injury. When toes heal this way, they no longer lie flat, causing pain and pressure when wearing shoes.
Hammer toe is a condition in which one or more toes become fixed in a bent position, usually after repeated injury
The most common procedure involves straightening the toe by removing a small section of bone and, in some cases, inserting a pin or implant to hold the toe in the correct position.
There is a possibility of reduced sensation in the toe afterwards, which can affect balance.
But there are measures worth trying first.
Specially designed wide-fitting shoes can reduce pressure significantly. Padded insoles and toe splints or straps – available from a podiatrist – can help realign the toe and ease discomfort.