ASK THE DOC: Advice for dealing with PMS and acne
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More health advice from the doctor.
Q. My daughter is 16 and really struggles with PMS symptoms every month. Is there anything she can do to lessen the symptoms?
A. Changes in the body’s hormone levels before a period can cause physical and emotional changes. This is often known as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
Symptoms of PMS can include mood swings, feeling down or anxious, irritability, bloated tummy, tender breasts and tiredness. PMS is normal and can occur at any point in your reproductive life.
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There are lots of different things you can do to help try and ease the symptoms of PMS:
- gentle exercise
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- taking pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- trying to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night
- yoga, breathing exercises and meditation to reduce stress
- complementary therapies or supplements such as calcium and vitamin D
If symptoms are severe and affecting day to day life, this should be discussed with a doctor who can decide if further tests or treatment are required.
For more information on women’s health issues search NHS inform – ‘women’s health.’
Q. My son is developing acne. What can we do to manage this?
A. Acne is a common skin condition that most commonly develops on the face, back and chest.
Don’t wash affected areas more than twice a day as frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse.
Wash the affected area with a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water.
Use water-based products described as non-comedogenic (less likely to block the pores in your skin).
If dry skin is a problem, use a fragrance-free, water-based emollient.
