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Wednesday, February 2, 2011 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES The trials of aging DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a senior citizen and, of late, am getting many brown spots on my body and arms. These spots are called sebor- rheic keratoses. Do you have any information or cures that you could provide? Dr. Peter Gott DEAR READER: Seb- orrheic keratoses are com- mon noncancerous skin growths that ordinarily affect older adults. They cause slightly raised brown, black or pale lesions that can appear waxy or scaly. They are round or oval in shape and can grow to an inch or more in size. Some may itch. The growths can develop in clusters or appear singularly, and most often appear on the head, neck or torso. Seborrheic keratoses are harmless and, there- fore, don’t necessarily require treatment. They can, however, be a cos- metic issue, especially on the face. They can also be irritating at the waist or in bra-strap areas. Removal of the lesion(s) is fairly simple and often doesn’t result in scarring. The most common methods of removal include cryother- apy (freezing), curettage (scraping), electrocautery (removal with electrical current) and ablation (laser removal). In some cases, more than one type of treatment may be used, especially on large lesions or if there are multiple growths of varying sizes. Unless they are removed because of irrita- tion or bleeding, the removal procedure is con- sidered cosmetic so most insurance companies will not pay for it. Another possibility is that you simply have liver spots (age spots) that pre- sent as brown, black or gray lesions on the skin that vary in size and shape. They can appear on the face, backs of the hands, shoulders and arms — areas most likely to receive extensive sun exposure. While the lesions might feel coarse and resemble leather, they are not the raised, scaly, waxy lesions associated with seborrheic keratoses. Age spots are harmless and do not require treat- ment. These spots occur over time because of the aging process, genetics or sun exposure without pro- tection from damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. It’s these rays that acceler- ate the production of melanin, the dark pigment in the layer of skin known as the epi- dermis. The pro- duction of high concentrations of melanin manufac- tured by the body is designed to protect the deeper layers of our skin. Because both age spots and keratoses can resem- ble cancerous lesions, I recommend that a derma- tologist examine you; he or she can perform a visu- al examination and order a biopsy should any ques- tion arise. I urge you to use a sun block on all exposed body parts before going out of doors. To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Medical Special- ists.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092- 0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com . DEAR DR. GOTT: I am looking for plain Lysol. I can’t find it any- where. My mother used it to control fungus, ring- worm and other conta- gious skin outbreaks. Where is it available? DEAR READER: Lysol sells and distributes disinfectant sprays, wipes, no-touch hand soap, all- purpose cleaners, mildew remover, kitchen, bath and toilet-bowl cleaners, but nowhere did I find plain Lysol. Upon calling the company, they indicated they discontinued the original “scent” in Janu- ary 2010. They have a 12- ounce concentrate, but it is not intended for use on the body; nor is any of their other products. So I guess you will have to improvise. Sorry! 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 Covert co-worker colloquies cause concern Dear Annie: ‘‘Bill’’ and I have been married for 42 years. I recently learned that he has been in touch with a former co-worker. Friends saw him having lunch with ‘‘Mary.’’ I also saw a short e-mail from her, saying, ‘‘Hi! Same time, same place. Looking for- ward to it.’’ She signed it: ‘‘Love, Mary.’’ Needless to say, I brought this to Bill’s attention. He admitted they’d had lunch a few times, but said signing ‘‘love’’ meant nothing. Bill explained that they are good friends and he finds out stuff from her, like the latest gossip. Well, Annie, to me this is obviously more than just a co-worker relationship. I told him I wanted these ‘‘dates’’ stopped immediately, as this rela- tionship could only lead to trouble. He agreed to stop. Loop Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Thrown: Bill should not have met with Mary without your knowl- edge and approval, but we don’t believe it is an affair. It sounds like he misses his job, wants to keep up with the gossip and enjoys her company. Unfortunately, your extreme reaction has turned it into a power strug- gle and a major marital cri- sis. Unless you want a divorce, we urge you to find a neutral third party — a counselor, clergyperson or family friend — who can mediate your disagreement and help you find a way back to each other before it’s too late. Dear Annie: I am a heavy smok- er. I am aware of the health risks (and the expense) and know I should quit, but I feel healthy now and have no desire to stop. A couple of family members Last week, Bill told me he was going to meet ‘‘Harry’’ for lunch. I checked his e-mail and learned that he met up with Mary. I am hurt by this betrayal. Bill now says I’m being ridiculous and he has no intention of ending the lunch dates. I am devastated. I told Bill it would be best if we separated to give both of us time to think. He says separating is absurd. How do I get rid of a husband who refuses to leave? We have a married daughter in another state, so getting away for a while could be the best thing for me to do right now. — Thrown for a extracted a promise from me that I would quit smoking as my Christ- mas present to them. I know these family members are only thinking of my health, and it seemed like a fair ‘‘gift.’’ But without my daily nicotine fix, I am feeling very grumpy, as well as angry with the relatives for getting me to make such a promise. Is it really possible to quit smok- ing for someone else? If so, do you have some suggestions for easing the process? — Grumpy Quitter Dear Grumpy: It is possible to quit for someone else if the motiva- tion is strong enough, but you still must be willing. The fact that you agreed to this promise with the intention of keeping it means you do have some motivation to quit. Also, until the nicotine is out of your system, you will continue to have cravings and feel ‘‘grumpy.’’ First talk to your doctor about assistance. Also, if you type ‘‘quit smoking’’ into any search engine, you will find a long list of sites offering a variety of help. We rec- ommend the National Cancer Insti- tute at smokefree.gov or 1-800- QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669). Dear Annie: You printed a letter from ‘‘Upset Wife,’’ who had years of illnesses and surgeries and whose husband is no longer interested in intimacy.Over the past 10 years, my wife has had many surgeries. She is doing better now, but it’s hard to think romantically about someone when you have been her nurse, cook and maid, rather than a mate. ‘‘Upset Wife’’ should take a look at what she is contributing to the partnership. She should be acting like a wife, not a patient. Otherwise, it just takes time. — Sad but True 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, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Natural gas bills to drop 6.8 percent February natural gas bills for Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) residen- tial customers are expected on average to be 6.8 percent less than natural gas bills in February 2010, as higher natural gas prices and cost increases for transportation and mandated social pro- grams are expected to be offset by decreases in cus- tomer usage to reflect nor- mal winter temperatures. The February 2011 nat- ural gas bill for the average single family customer is forecasted to be $66.64 compared to $71.52 in Feb- ruary 2010. Natural gas costs can change quickly during the winter months depending on weather and market con- ditions. PG&E takes steps to protect customers from significant price fluctua- tions, including smart pur- chasing decisions and using its extensive pipeline and storage infrastructure to store natural gas when it is less expensive in anticipa- tion of winter demand. The utility passes the wholesale price of natural gas through to customers without mark- up. Customers can also take steps to help reduce their natural gas bills. Simply turning down your thermo- stat by just one or two degrees and wrapping older, working water heaters (pre- 1999) with an insulating jacket are some simple ways to reduce your gas use. To learn more about natural gas conservation tips, please visit www.pge.com. Customers in need of assistance with bill payment should call 800-PGE-5000. Residential Natural Gas Cost Comparison: Definitions: Therm: An amount of thermal energy equal to 100,000 British Thermal Units. Cost of Gas Procure- ment: Includes the weighted average cost of natural gas supply as well as the cost of PG&E’s gas storage and pipeline transportation to PG&E’s local transmission system. Gas procurement rates change monthly to reflect the current gas price forecast and any changes to transportation capacity and firm storage costs. Average Transportation Charge: Includes the annual average cost of local trans- mission and distribution services to PG&E’s cus- tomers. Gas Public Purpose Pro- gram Surcharge: Mandated gas social programs (e.g., Energy Efficiency, Low Income Energy Efficiency, California Alternate Rates for Energy) as authorized by the California Public Utilities Commission.