Dear Dr Gott: In a recent column, you recommended consulting a doctor about using bee pollen. When was the last time you consulted an MD on a nonmedical treatment? I have. They ridicule you. In fact, when I wanted physical therapy rather than prescription drugs and surgery for hip replacement, my primary care doctor wrote me and indicated I should not bother coming back. You are out of touch with the stone-age drug-company bed partners that currently serve as doctors. Don't advise people to talk to their doctors without knowing anything about the subject.

Reply: I must admit that at one time I thought the only way for a patient to improve was through prescription drugs, and, when all else failed, surgery might be considered. It took years, and it certainly wasn't easy for me to realise that patients want options.

I may not know how doctors are "supposed" to approach medical situations, but it is time for you to find another physician with an open mind. Some problems are well-handled with alternative drugs. You're lucky to be strong enough to fight the system. Good luck.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Reports 'Compelling Home Remedies' and 'Herbs and Healing Fads'. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number ten envelope and a $2 cheque or money order for each report made payable to Newsletter and forwarded on to PO Box 167, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.

Dear Dr Gott: I enjoy your column. I'm a 68-year-old female in good health but recently developed unsightly red bruise marks on my arms and legs. These seem to occur without my even knowing that I have hit something. Sometimes the skin breaks, and it is hard to stop the bleeding. My dermatologist says the bruises are due to lost skin elasticity.

I grew up in an era when sunscreen was unknown. Do you know of anything that would help? The only thing the dermatologist recommended was to moisturise.

Reply: You share a common problem with many other people. As we age, our skin becomes thinner and loses some of the fat that cushions our blood vessels against injury. While bruising can occur on any part of the body, the backs of hands seem extremely susceptible. This isn't generally an indication of an underlying medical condition but is attributed to several conditions.

Years of excessive sun exposure, either today or in years past, can break down collagen and elastin fibres in the deep layers of our skin.

Some medications, specifically anticoagulants (such as Coumadin and aspirin) or corticosteroids can weaken skin and blood vessels. Speak with your physician to determine whether any drugs you might be on have bruising as a known side effect. Finally, some medical conditions and/or bleeding disorders can result in spontaneous bruising called ecchymosis.

Your options are limited. Take precautions to prevent banging into things. Avoid direct sun exposure unless you are appropriately covered with sunblock. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover your lesions until they clear.

Do not shower or bathe in extremely hot water, as it will dry your skin out faster. Pat your skin dry following bathing rather than rub briskly with a towel.

Keep your skin well moisturised with a topical cream or lotion containing petroleum jelly, lanolin, or vitamin E. Eat a well-balanced diet and exercise as much as possible.

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. Contact him c/o United Media, 200 Madison Avenue, fourth floor, New York, New York 10016.