Embarrassing Bodies And What To Do About Them

Here are the five most embarrassing conditions and what to do about them.

Let’s face it, some health conditions are more embarrassing than others. No one minds telling friends or colleagues about the ankle they sprained on their weekend run or the cough they picked up from the school playground. But your haemorrhoids or your adult acne? Not really the kind of thing you want to discuss around the water cooler. So, here are the five most embarrassing conditions and what to do about them.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged veins which have become widened, lumpy and twisted. They typically occur under the skin of the legs and are said to affect roughly one in four people.

Genetics are the biggest contributing factor, with other common risk factors including: Pregnancy, age and diet.

Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, Consultant Vascular Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street says: “Varicose veins are often seen as a problem that only the elderly suffer from, so young women can feel particularly embarrassed if they are effected, but varicose veins can appear at any age.

“Unfortunately, treatment options on the NHS are limited, as the NHS will only treat those patients who are suffering from very severe discomfort or other health complications as a result of their veins.

“There is, however, a very effective treatment available privately, called Endovenus Laser Ablation (EVLA) therapy; performed under local anaesthetic and is a walk-in walk-out procedure. EVLA involves delivering laser energy in to the vein to seal it off from the surrounding blood supply. With the blood supply cut off, the vein is simply reabsorbed by the body and disappears.”

Hair Loss

Hair loss can be a confidence knocking condition for anyone who suffers with it, particularly in the case of female sufferers. However, it is actually fairly common, particularly for women going through major hormonal changes, e.g. during or after pregnancy and during or after the menopause.

Hair Loss Specialist and Transplant Surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street says: “With female hair loss, an underlying medical condition can often be the cause and if you treat the underlying problem, the hair loss you experience can often reduce. Underactive Thyroid, anaemia, hormonal disorders including oestrogen, polycystic ovaries or even lupus are all conditions that can cause hair loss.

“If you have ruled out an underlying condition, here are some tips to mitigate against hair loss:

• Wash hair regularly with a SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) free shampoo.
• Avoid over styling and extensions which can contribute towards traction alopecia because of how the hair is being pulled and weighed down. If you wear hair extensions, try not to do so on a frequent basis.
• Topical Minoxidil (Regaine) is the only clinically proven product to effectively reduce hair loss in certain cases. There is a special formula designed for women, too, although it’s important to seek the advice from a specialist before using any form of product like this.