People's Pharmacy: There are alternatives to estrogen therapy

Q: Why are doctors so determined that menopausal patients should take estrogen?

When I told my doctor that I am reluctant to take Premarin for fear of cancer, she actually said that cancer is no big deal. It is just a way of life now: Get cancer, get treatment and get over it, is pretty much what she said. I was appalled and have found a new doctor.

A: We share your indignation. Cancer is a big deal, even when treated successfully.

The controversy over hormone replacement therapy (Premarin, Prempro, Estrace and others) has raged for decades. The Food and Drug Administration requires warnings about both breast and uterine cancer in the official prescribing information.

A combination of black cohosh and St. John's wort might ease menopausal symptoms. One study found that French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) also may be helpful (Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, August 2007; Panminerva Medica, September 2011, Suppl. 1).

Q: A friend and I were both recently diagnosed with perleche or angular cheilitis. Although the prescribed medicine (ciclopirox and fluticasone creams) clears it up, the irritation comes right back.

I have very dry lips, and use lanolin to moisturize them. Could this exacerbate the condition? Are there any effective home remedies or nutritional improvements I could try?

A: In angular cheilitis (perleche), sore, red cracks appear at the corners of the mouth. This painful condition goes hand in hand with dry, chapped lips because the cracks offer a foothold for fungus. That's why the antifungal medicine ciclopirox helps clear it up, together with the strong steroid fluticasone that fights inflammation.

Licking dry lips contributes to the problem. Although lanolin can be an effective moisturizer, some people react badly to it. You might try switching to a different chapped-lip treatment.

Other lip-balm ingredients to watch out for include sunscreens and peppermint. Both can trigger sensitivity reactions. Some people end up in a vicious cycle with their lip products. They get temporary relief, but compounds in the moisturizer actually can be irritating.

Go here to read the rest:
People's Pharmacy: There are alternatives to estrogen therapy