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Thursday, August 5, 2010 – Daily News – 3B FEATURES Split fingertips at risk for infection If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. Howev- er, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address. DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing in hopes to get a response for a terrible prob- lem my daughter is having with her fingertips. When she was just out of the Air Force, she began a business cleaning homes. She had her hands in water and chemical cleaners constant- ly. She hasn’t done that job for the past five years, but since then, she has a crack- ing of her fingertips that is painful, and they some- times bleed. Her pharmacist and fam- ily doctor told her that this would probably never heal. She has tried tea-tree oil, Corn Husker’s lotion and every cream we can think of. It used to get worse in the winter but now happens year-round. Would seeing a dermatologist help? Or is this really something that she will have to live with? I’m afraid that she will eventually get a bad infec- tion or something else. She’s now six months preg- nant, but anything that you suggest could be held off until after the baby is born. DEAR READER: Well, you’re right about holding off until after she delivers. Furthermore, if she plans to nurse her infant, that might have a bearing on treat- ment. Because of her preg- nancy, I recommend that she not do anything without consulting with her OB/GYN. Cracked fingers are a true dilemma and are diffi- cult to repair. I could tell you countless remedies, but you’ve likely tried them all. So let’s consider auxiliary approaches. 1. Your daughter should see her physician to rule out a fungal infection causing the splitting. Some people on antifungal shampoos have found that massaging the product onto their scalps three times a week has healed their cracked fingertips. 2. She might also have lab work to test her thyroid, because abnormal levels can cause cracking. 3. She should not show- er using very warm to hot water. The higher the heat, the more likely her skin will dry out and crack. Dr. Peter Gott 4. She should wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or doing household chores with harsh chemicals. Any- thing on her open skin falls into the “harsh” category. 5. She should keep her skin moisturized. One of the best and cheapest solutions is to use a petrole- um-jelly product that she generously applies to her hands before going to sleep. She should then slip her hands into white-cotton gloves overnight. This pat- tern should be repeated every night until her skin is better. 6. She should wear gloves or mittens when hanging out laundry or going outside in cold, windy weather. This will further maintain what moisture her fingertips hold. 7. If, after trying these approaches, she does not experience relief, an exami- nation by a dermatologist may be appropriate. DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had abdominal migraines for the past eight years. I had to retire from my teaching position because of them. In the past two weeks, since your arti- cle appeared, I found that stress and anxiety caused the daily occurrence of migraines. An anti-anxiety drug is assisting in my mis- sion to find some sense of balance. We need more doctors like you to add to the existing information. Keep me posted on your new discoveries. DEAR READER: I’m glad I could help. I will definitely provide an update as new develop- ments unravel. To provide related infor- mation, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Headaches.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 4409-20167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. Mama’s man a matrimonial misread Dear Annie: I am 52 years old, have been divorced for 15 years and am currently involved in a relationship with a wonder- ful man. ‘‘Chuck’’ lives 80 miles from me, but we have adjusted to the distance and enjoy weekends together. The problem is, he still lives at home with his parents. He’s 53, has never been married and is very spoiled. We are madly in love with each other. He adores my children and grandchil- dren. And he supported me during some difficult times. We have looked at engage- ment rings, but that’s as far as it has gone. I don’t want to continue this if Chuck has no intention of marrying me. Why invest in a rela- tionship that is going nowhere? Whenever I try to talk to him about it, he avoids the conversation. I do not want to grow old alone. I am ready to make a commitment, but Chuck isn’t. Should I end this now before it’s too late? I don’t want to wait until his par- ents die. They are in excel- lent health, and it could be a long time. — Investing and Confused Dear Investing: If you are looking for a commit- ment right now, a 53-year- old man who has never been married and still lives with his parents is probably not a good bet. This is especially true if he refuses to discuss the subject. Living indepen- dently is how people mature and develop, and Chuck has never had that opportunity. Unless he is acting as care- Program seeks grant applicants California’s non- profit organizations have until Aug. 20 to apply for grants in the Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Program. The program provides grants of $25,000 or more to non-profits that strive to provide opportuni- ties to improve the lives of individuals in their local communi- ties. Applications for the final round of program grants in 2010 are being accepted at www.walmartfounda- tion.org. Organizations that operate under the tax-exempt status Sec- tion 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code are encouraged to apply. To date, in 2010, the program has given a total of $615,000 in grants to California non-profits. giver for his parents (and it doesn’t seem so), we think you should consider this a wonderful friendship and nothing more. Dear Annie: I am fed up. Every time my family gets together, the women spend the entire time work- ing while the men sit around and watch TV. I am so angry about this sexism that I am ready to stop attending these func- tions. I don’t believe that women who work full-time jobs should be expected to slave away in the kitchen doing prep and cleanup, while the men show up, eat a delicious meal and then relax on the couch. I’ve voiced my objec- tions to my mother and sis- ter, but while they agree with me, they do nothing to back up my request for help from my father and brother. My brother-in-law will give us a hand, but his son plays on the computer. What advice do you have for me other than to stop participating? — On Strike Dear On Strike: If you want the menfolk to help out, you have to insist on it, since they obviously aren’t considerate enough to do it voluntarily. Hand your nephew the silverware, and tell him to set the table. Give your brother the plates. Enlist your brother- in-law as an ally. Ask him to inform the guys that they will be clearing the table and putting leftovers away. Tell him it is good train- ing for his son. Your mother and sister may still choose to do most of the work, but it’s a start. Dear Annie: Although ing.’’ I am so happy I could get my siblings out of this fam- ily dysfunction before they had to go through what I did as a child. So to all the enablers out there: Cut your losses. — The Rest of the Family Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ‘‘Bummed Out’’ and ‘‘Burned Out’’ were fortu- nate that their children even- tually gave up drugs and got their lives back on track, I have to say that is not always the case. I am 22 and am taking care of my 13-year-old brother and 3-year-old sis- ter. My mother has been in and out of drug rehab multi- ple times, but she is still using. And my grandpar- ents, in their refusal to give up on her, are still ‘‘help- Dear Rest: We commend you for taking responsibil- ity for your sib- lings and under- stand your desire to cut ties. But par- ents are loath to give up on a child, and on occasion, their efforts pay off. This is why your grandparents still enable your mother. We hope someday they will find a better way to help her. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. Pages of History Red Bluff – Tehama County A special publication of The Daily News Pages from The Daily News and its preceding titles taken from editions of the newspapers published 1912 -1986 Distributed FREE as a gift to subscribers with home delivered copies of The Daily News on Friday, August 20, 2010 Additional Distribution: • 1000+ Copies to Tehama County elementary students with Newspaper in Education school-delivered copies, September 2010 • 2000 copies for distribution to new residents, visitors through Chambers of Commerce & The Daily News Advertiser sponsor boxes published on each page Limited page sponsorships available! Discount rates offered to Contract and Frequency Advertisers • Some full color ad positions available Contact your Daily New advertising representative for available pages and further details. Deadline for Advertising Space Reservations: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY (530) 527-2151 advertise@redbluffdailynews.com Tehama County’s Personal/Professional Service Directory Bankruptcy Attorney Local Bankruptcy Attorney Jocelyn C. Olander 530-824-0288 Free Consultation Payment Plans Available Web: www.jcoattyatlaw.com email: mail@jcoatty atlaw.com A federally qualified Debt Relief Agency under 11 U.S.C. 101(12(A)) Embroidery AT YOUR SERVICE! $ 9900 3 month Clock Repair 530-736-7079 Grandpa’s Clocks Jim Paul 20910 Pebblestone Dr. Red Bluff Shelf & 31 Day Clocks Repaired Call for appt. Member NAWCC Cuckoo Clocks, Anniversary, Wall, Clock Repair James W. 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