From hairy nipples to cracking knees, we uncover the truth behind some of the body’s most bizarre ailments
WORDS: ROSE GOODMAN. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY. *TRIAL FACTS. **WORKING WITH INTIMINA. *FROM TYPHARM’S SKIN LIFE SCIENCES FOUNDATION. ****LOVE YOUR GUT ADVISOR (LOVEYOURGUT.COM). *FROM DR FOX ONLINE PHARMACY. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR GP
Ever wonder why your skin wrinkles after a long bath? Or maybe your toilet habits are causing concern. With so many different answers on the internet, it can be tricky to understand what’s going on and, more importantly, when you should be concerned. Overwhelmed? You’re not alone – in fact, 7% of Google searches are health related and 80% of those come from people aged 50 to 64*.
But, fear not, we’ve asked our experts for the lowdown on your burning health questions, so you don’t have to…
Are fanny farts normal?
Absolutely! They’re caused by air being pushed into the vagina – either during sex or other activities, such as exercise. ‘Arousal can lead to temporary relaxation of the vaginal wall, allowing air to enter. Then, during penetrative sex, if there’s enough pressure forcing the air out it might make a sound,’ says gynaecologist Dr Susanna Unsworth**. ‘Air can also enter the vagina when exercising, particularly during relaxation exercises, such as in yoga.’ If your fanny farts smell or you have stool leaking from the vagina or pain, see your GP.
What causes hungry stomach gurgling?
‘The noises made by our stomachs are caused by digestive juices and air,’ says dietitian Jo Travers****. ‘This actually happens all of the time, but we tend to hear and feel it most when we’re hungry, as there’s no food in the upper digestive tract to muffle the sound and sensations.’
Should I get out of the bath when my skin starts to wrinkle?
No need to jump out of the tub just yet – it’s doing you no harm. ‘When you soak for a long time, keratin cells, which make up a major part of the skin (especially in our fingers and toes), absorb water,’ says GP Dr Nisa Aslam***. ‘This causes the skin to swell. But, as the outer layer is tightly attached to the living tissue, the skin compensates for the increased surface area by wrinkling.’ Dr Aslam recommends always moisturising after your bath and, if you have any flare-up of a skin condition like eczema, to see your GP.
Why do I get hairs on my nipples?
Rather than on the nipples themselves, you might notice hairs on the areola. This is the pigmented skin around the edge of each nipple. ‘Hairs may only appear the first t
