• I am a 29-yr-old man. I have two small spots on my face near the lips. The spots, which are hairless, have become visible since I grew a beard. Is there a treatment? Is it a fungal infection? The problem has been there for 10 years now. Avinash, Haryana Dr S C Bharija, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital says: Some people have less growth of hair at the corner of the mouth. It might have been there from the beginning and you might have noticed after you grew a beard. Or it could be some past injury or infection which has healed now. The damaged skin would be responsible. Check whether the skin texture is normal. If the spots start growing, see a doctor. It can’t be a persistant fungal infection. A fungal infection grows continuously. • I am a 34-yr-old woman. I had a very good memory, but lately I have trouble remembering names, phone numbers and other details. Is there a remedy? Shailaja, Delhi Dr Sanjay Saxena, Consultant Neurologist at Vimhans, says: Dementia is when a person is unable to carry out routine work actively. At your age it is very unlikely. This could be pseudo-dementia, seen in young people who have a lot of work pressure and are mostly in creative fields. Such people are likely to suffer from a lack of concentration and forget recent events. In case you have no medical history of high blood pressure or diabetes and no family history of dementia, try changing your lifestyle. Take it easy, have a good diet with lot of iron, vitamins and minerals. Sleep for at least 7-8 hours, try breathing exercises. In case the symptoms persist and hamper your everyday activity, seek advise from a neurologist or a psychologist.
