Gareth Smith: Can our beautiful baby girl get acne?

Byline: Gareth Smith

Q OUR eight-week-old baby daughter has a rash on her face but we don't know what is causing it. Could it be an allergy or are the red spots a sign of acne?

AIT sounds as though your baby may have seborreheic dermatitis, otherwise known as baby acne. You can treat this by gently washing with mild soap and water and ensure that baby's fingernails are kept short to stop her scratching. It usually clears up without any prescribed treatments.

QMY eight-year-old son has been vaccinated against chicken pox but recently had a heavy case of this when some other kids in his class came down with it. I understand that vaccines don't offer 100 per cent protection but will he now have full immunity?

ATHE likelihood of a recurring infection after contracting chicken pox is less, unless the patient has a weak immune system. Sometimes re-infection can cause shingles but this is not common in children.

QI HAVE an embarrassing problem. My daughter and I both seem to produce more gas than other people. Could this be due to some underlying health condition? I am also unsure about using over-the-counter remedies from the chemist.

AIT is unlikely that this is as a result of a medical condition especially if you have been experiencing this for a long time. Too much gas can be a symptom of lactose intolerance or a high fibre diet may also increase your production of gas. There is no need to be concerned about using over-the counter treatments as these are mostly harmless but it might be an idea to get a check up with your doctor to have a look at your diet to determine if this is what is causing increased gas production. QMY daughter has had all the symptoms of an underactive thyroid weight gain, hair loss and tiredness. An ultrasound was normal and she was told she had secondary hypothyroidism. What is this?

AONE of the functions of the thyroid gland is to control the metabolism, so if it is under active then things slow down. The thyroid needs the pituitary gland to send a hormone to it to keep it working. Secondary hypothyroidism is when the thyroid itself is working properly but it is not receiving the message from the pituitary. All of the symptoms you have described are consistent with low levels of thyroid hormone. The doctor will have to investigate why the pituitary is not working and treat her accordingly.

QARE there any known connections between rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and what are the most beneficial treatments for pain and fatigue?

ATHEY are not connected immunologically. Fibromyalgia is a collection of symptoms that include muscle pain, tiredness, facial pain, stiffness and sometimes bowel disturbance. If the rheumatoid arthritis is causing disturbances in sleep and it is stopping you from taking any exercise then this may trigger symptoms that are like fibromyalgia. The best way to avoid fibromyalgia is to ensure a regular sleep and exercise pattern, swimming and cycling can be beneficial as they reduce the stress on joints while exercising.