Body Q&A.

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I get this icky phlegm in the back of my throat, and I always have to clear it. It is affecting how I sing and talk.

We hear ya loud and ... clear that phlegm. Dr. David Mandell, pediatric otolaryngology, Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh, says nasal allergies, sinus infections or even a cold can cause mucus to drain from the back of the nose and into the throat. Otherwise, it could be tonsillitis, adenoiditis or something called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) in which stomach acid reaches the throat, but only a doc can diagnose. Or it might be simple dehydration causing thick secretions. Drink lots of water, and see if that helps. If not, get a referral from your pediatrician to see an otolaryngologist (that's an ear/nose/throat specialist).

I've had warts on my fingers for weeks. They're disgusting! I tried some medicine, but it doesn't help. What should I do?

Try duct tape. No kidding! Dr. Jerome Aronberg, assistant professor of dermatology, Washington University, St. Louis, says warts are from a vires. "There's no method to kill any virus, but we try to 'kill' the skin that harbors the warts." Most methods are kinda gnarly: freezing, burning or acid solutions. Then there are over-the-counter meds, which aren't working for you. So ... duct tape. "Yes, duct tape often works, if used correctly," says Dr. Aronberg. Put a piece on cleansed skin, and leave it for five days. Take the tape off, then use a pumice stone to scrape the skin off. Wait a day, then repeat until the wart is gone, which might take up to eight weeks. Don't want ugly gray tape on your digits? Go to duckproducts.com. They have duct tape in colors like island lime and pink flamingo.

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I have a gross small from "down there." I', embarrassed to tell my mom, I think it is a yeast infection. will it go away on its own?

Go to the gyno, girl friend. Because your discharge is odorous, it's probably not a yeast infection. You most likely have another type of vaginal infection, but only a doc can give you the correct diagnosis and treatment. No need to be red-faced--chances are, your mother has had her fair share of infections "down there." Most women have, and it is rarely anything to worry about--but, no, it won't magically disappear. Tell your mom, pronto.

I get nosebleeds. My doc says it's common for kids to get them, but I've worried myself sick about it, is there anything really wrong?

Your doc nose, uh, knows: Kids get nosebleeds. "I see a new case nearly every week," says Dr. Mandell. "When the septum--cartilage dividing the nasal cavity (like a wall between two rooms)--gets dry, blood vessels can crack and bleed. It's impressive how much blood can come out." He says to use a saline solution and water-based ointment twice a day. Still bleeding after a month? See an otolaryngologist.

Fact or Fiction?

I've heard you should change your shampoo every six months or your hair will get used to it and not get clean. Is that true?

"No need to change shampoos," says Dr. Aronberg. However, he adds, "To avoid harming the hair with chemicals, companies put conditioners in shampoos, which can build up on hair shafts over time and make hair a bit limp. But once a person has found a shampoo that leaves hair manageable, she should stick with that brand." If your hair gets buildup, wash occasionally with a clarifying shampoo, such as Pantene Pro-V Purity.

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