Q. I have got bad acne problems and there are acne scars left behind on my skin. What should I do?

A. There is nothing much you can do about scarring. However, if you are still having pimples with pus, you should see a doctor and be on a long-term course of antibiotics that should be taken on a daily basis.

Q. I am only 25 years old, yet I am developing a circle of bald patch at the back of my head. Has this got anything to do with my hair-washing habits?

A. If you are male, you could be suffering from early male pattern baldness (MPB), which typically affects the back of the scalp and the front corners above the temples. It is possible to start balding as early as 25. In this case, the only shampoo you may want to try should contain Minoxidil, an ingredient that stimulates hair growth. And you may want to see your doctor who can prescribe Propecia, a hormonal pill that helps to restore hair growth in MPB.
Another rather common cause of painless hair loss is alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder (due to genetics) where the body starts rejecting scalp hair. Steroid injections and creams given by a doctor may help.
Other causes of hair loss would be serious diseases such as other autoimmune diseases, blood poisoning cases and drug reactions that would need hospitalisation and blood tests for diagnosis and treatment.

Q. How can I lower my cholesterol level?

A. You can lower your cholesterol level by being more physically active. Exercise vigorously 30 minutes each time at least three times a week. Lose weight if you are overweight and follow a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet.
Eat more fibre which is found in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Eat at least two pieces of fresh fruit, two servings of vegetables and three servings of whole grains every day. Try to incorporate legumes at least twice each week. Oats, legumes and fruits that contain pectin (citrus fruit, apples and grapes) all help to lower cholesterol because of their soluble fibre content. Use monounsaturated fats in cooking. The two primary sources of monounsaturated fats are olive oil and canola oil. Fish, especially cold-water ocean fish such as mackerel, blue fin tuna and salmon, contain omega-three fatty acids that help lower cholesterol. However, remember not to eat these fishes fried or dipped in butter. Also, do eat at least 25 grams of soy protein every day to help lower cholesterol levels. Choose whole soy foods such as tofu, tempeh or soymilk, or look for foods that have added soy protein.

Q. If I am underweight, what should I do to gain weight?

A. Regular exercise helps you to keep fit and healthy. In addition to your regular workout, ensure that you are on a well balanced diet that is sufficient in calories. You may want to see a dietician to help plan a healthy diet for you.

Q. If I am overweight, how can I reduce my weight effectively?

A. If being overweight is your only problem and you are healthy otherwise, then you should do exercise like walking and swimming (low impact) to minimise injuries or aches and pains. You should also exercise at a rate that makes you feel warm, sweat, and breathe harder, but not to the point that you get breathless. If you start to feel breathless while exercising, you should slow down before you continue. You can also stop for a short while (eg 30 seconds) to catch your breath, then continue at a lower intensity (eg walk slower). Each exercise session should be 30-60 minutes in duration, as continuous as possible, and sessions should be regular (three to five times a week). As you get fitter, you would be able to exercise harder without becoming breathless.

Q. What is ovulation?

A. Ovulation (the release of one or more eggs from an ovary) occurs within a 24-hour period and only once during a menstrual cycle. Day 1 of menstrual bleeding is the first day of the cycle. The time interval from day 1 to ovulation may vary while the interval from ovulation to menstruation is about two weeks. Ovulation will occur early in a short cycle and later in a long cycle.

Q. I had sex on the day before and after my ovulation. Will I get pregnant since sex did not occur on the day that I ovulated? When should I test for pregnancy?

A. You can still get pregnant even if you did not have sex on the exact day of your ovulation as the sperms can survive for 48 hrs in the woman and the egg survives for 72 hrs. You should do your urine pregnancy test around seven days after your period is due. If you do not get pregnant despite having sex around the time of ovulation, there may be other factors involved such as low sperm count or reduced percentage of sperm mortality or a high percentage of abnormal sperm, among other possible reasons.