I am 77 and have crispy spots on my breasts, back and stomach. Can they be cancer -like?
Dr. Ellie Cannon answers: It is unlikely. These sound like seborrhoic keratoses-on-disadvantable skin growth that influence about three-quarters of people older than 70 and often appear as rough, crispy spots in shades of brown, brown or black that can become a few centimeters wide.
Although it is sometimes called seborrhoeic warts, they are not caused by a virus like real warts. They are clusters of skin cells and although the cause is not fully understood, they are not cancer -like – although patients can bother themselves about what they look like. But if one suddenly changes its size, shape or color – especially if it is very dark – it is worth checking by your doctor or a dermatologist to be safe.
The most common treatment is freezing also known as cryotherapy-from which liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion to destroy the structure of skin cells. This usually ensures that the area falls away and fall away within a week or two.
Because these patches are benign and do not become cancer, removal is usually considered cosmetic and not financed by the NHS
Or it can be removed by curettage, where the mark is scraped away with a small tool called a curette. This is done under local anesthesia and can be combined with cauterization – a technique that uses heat to seal the area and minimize the regrowing risk.
Another common treatment is electrosurgery, in which a targeted electrical current burns the lesion, often followed by scraping to remove some remaining tissue.
Laser therapy – evaporating the keratosis with a targeted beam of light – is another possible approach, but is usually more expensive and less available.
Because these patches are benign and do not become cancer, removal is usually considered cosmetic and not financed by the NHS. And even if they are private, they can grow again or return elsewhere.
For the past two years I have had pins and needles and numbness in both feet. Specialists can’t tell me why – what should I do?
Dr. Ellie Cannon answers: Pin and needles and numbness in the legs are a common but painful problem, and usually a sign of a nerve -related issue, especially when they are in both legs.
Nerves wear electrical signals that help us feel touch, pressure and pain. If they do not work properly – usually due to damage or underlying circumstances – these signals can misunderstand, causing sensations such as tingling or numbness.
The root problem is often in the spine, where the nerves start for the legs. A sliding disc or spinal arthritis can compress them, which leads to the sensations.
Another possible cause is peripheral neuropathy – damage to the nerves at the ends of the limbs, usually the feet.
It is more common in age and can be linked to diabetes, a vitamin B12 deficiency or important treatments such as chemotherapy.
A medicine that is designed to treat nerve -related pain and tingling called pregabaline can help. But your doctor can arrange more tests to find the problem. An X -ray of the lower spine can reveal nerve compression and help identify research studies of nerve conduction where the problem lies.
Vascular problems – problems with the veins or arteries – can cause leg pain, but they usually do not lead to pins and needles or numbness.
My ten-year-old grandson has an attack of illness in the morning and he can’t even eat his breakfast. It often happens before football matches or on school days, then fades after ten to 15 minutes. What can this cause?
Dr. Ellie Cannon answers: Nausea in children can be due to different things, but the reassuring detail in this case is that the symptoms settle quickly.
If there was a physical cause, it would usually take place at different times of the day and it could also be activated by eating or lying.
The fact that it only happens in the morning suggests emotional upset or mild stress. Morning sickness and problems that swallow are often linked to fear – in both adults and children – often caused by anticipation on the coming day.
It is important to exclude a physical cause, so a visit to the doctor is a wise next step.
If your grandson grows well, normally eat for the rest of the time, sleeping healthy and staying active, they are all positive signs – but the doctor may want to perform some basic tests.
Occasionally a persistent stomach infection, such as helicobacter pylori, nausea and stomach can cause discomfort, especially before eating, but
It can be checked with a simple stool test. Constipation is another common and often overlooked, cause of nausea in children.
Since breakfast is important before school or physical activity, it can help to shift the morning routine – wake up earlier to allow more time before you eat. It can also be useful to talk to your grandson about how physical symptoms (‘butterflies’ or a tight stomach) can happen if we feel anxious. This can cause a conversation and give him the language to express what is going on.
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