DEAR DR. GOTT: I have an unusual happening that occurs occasionally on my skin. It starts with a bright red round mark. It is anywhere between [1/4] inch to [1/2] inch in diameter. It stays red for a couple of days then a crust begins to form. This seems to take a week or two, then the crust drops off. The skin colour (red) fades quite a bit and eventually disappears as if nothing had ever been there. I am 83 years old, and I suppose age may be a factor. It started several years ago, and they show up periodically one at a time and only on my legs and arms. I have asked a few doctors, but none seems to have a clear idea as to what they might be. I hope, Dr. Gott, that you can find out what these things are and what is causing them. DEAR READER:<$> I am sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot diagnose your dermatitis, except to say that your crusting suggests an allergic reaction. I believe that we can rule out a viral infection, such as shingles, which is ordinarily quite painful. I recommend that you see a dermatologist, especially during the active phase of your skin disorder. DEAR DR. GOTT:<$> Would you please comment on how strenuous exercise affects young girls’ menstrual cycles? My 11-year-old granddaughter is a nonstop athlete (soccer, basketball, running, biking, etc). Her menses are long and often. My mother allowed me to rest during this time. Is that old-fashioned?DEAR READER:<$> There may be two components to your granddaughter’s problem.

First, young girls who are beginning their periods usually experience wide variation in their bleeding cycles. They may skip several months between menses until they are older and their bodies have adjusted to the surge of hormones. Second, active sportswomen often stop menstrual bleeding completely if they train intensively. Their periods ordinarily become regulated once they cease heavy training.

If your granddaughter is in good health and trains regularly, I do not believe that you need worry about her menses; however, you could certainly check with her paediatrician or a gynaecologist if you remain concerned. DEAR DR. GOTT:<$> In doing research on HUMCO products, we’ve found several mentions of odourless castor oil as a wart remover. The attached article suggests putting a drop of castor oil on hand warts for 30 minutes, three times a day for three weeks. Obviously, some of the other methods in this article are old wives’ tales, but since we’ve seen the castor oil hint in several other places, we thought there may be some truth to it. Do you know anything about castor oil for wart removal? We would love to have you test this hint.DEAR READER:<$> I’d love to have YOU test this hint. Unquestionably, castor oil as a wart remover has been reported to me by readers as being effective, but not consistently so. Still, it’s worth a try, especially for plantar warts on the feet. Doctor Gott is a practising physician and the author of the new book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet.” (Quill Driver Books, www.quilldriverbooks.com; 1-800-605-7176).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. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address.