My feet are very dry and cracks have appeared around the heels. Sometimes I feel pain. Please tell me what I should do to relieve the pain.

Mamta Chakravarty, Kolkata

This is usually a result of neglect. You will have to start paying more attention to your feet on a daily basis. Soak them in lukewarm water into which a little shampoo has been added every night before getting into bed.  Leave them soaked for 10 minutes then rinse with clear warm water and pat dry .Then massage a nourishing cream into them using both your hands making sure you rub the cream into the cracks too. Wear a pair of socks to keep your feet warm and this also aids the cream to be absorbed. Have fortnights or a monthly professional pedicure and soon you will have feet that are a pleasure to look at.

I am 45 years old and am having spells of depression, mood swings and get irritable quickly. Are these signs of menopause?

Sangita, Kolkata

Most women enter menopause between the ages 45 and 50 but it may occur few years earlier too. Symptoms such as mood swings and depression are quite common. The woman’s family history can also contribute at which age she will undergo menopause. The symptoms you are having are all connected to this and you must learn to handle them yourself. A poor diet stress and lack of exercise can lead to an increase in symptoms. Maintain a healthy body weight by making changes in your diet. Limit the number of calories in your diet that comes from fat and choose foods that are rich in calcium such as milk and milk products, sea food and dark green vegetables. Help your body to get enough calcium by getting adequate Vitamin D. Try and get as much sunlight on your body as possible.

I am in my mid 30s but already my neck is beginning to look old and has lines on it. What can I do, please help.

Shalini Puri, Kolkata

The skin on the neck has hardly any under support — it only rests on the muscle and tendons which are attached to bones at the front of the chest and extend upwards to the jaw and skull. Bending and stretching the neck increases the problem. Start applying a specific neck cream at night – this will help repair the damage.