Q Please help me. I work as a cleaner and my hands are always cracking. I’ve used steroid creams, but the moment I stop, my hands go back to being awful.

Therese, 40.

A Your symptoms sound like contact dermatitis. If you work in a job where you handle chemicals such as bleach, which may damage your skin, it is vitally important that you wear protective gloves. You can get latex free ones if you find that normal gloves irritate your skin. Skin is like leather and constantly needs to be nourished, particularly if your job mean you have to wash your hands a lot. You should aim to moisturise your hands at least twice a day, and it may help to put a good dose of moisturiser on them and then put soft mittens over your hands before you go to bed at night, which allows the moisturiser to sink into your hands over several hours. You should ideally do this every night. This will hopefully reduce the amount of times you need a steroid cream.

Q I started suffering with piles while pregnant. I’m now six months down the line, but I don’t want an operation. What can I do?

Charlene, 25.

A Inside the anus is a delicate ring of blood vessels. Many conditions including constipation and pregnancy cause these to swell. They then pop out of the anus and can be felt. If they burst you notice bright red blood usually in the toilet pan. These are known as piles or haemorrhoids. In young healthy individuals where the piles can be popped back in, they may shrink of their own. It is important to avoid constipation with adequate water and fibre in your diet, as straining makes them worse. Creams and suppositories are available over the counter to help with itch and pain. If they continue to bleed, or cannot be popped in, it is worth seeing your routine GP to be examined.

If you have a question for Dr Zak, you can email him at askdoctorzak@gmail.com, see his website doctorzak.co.uk or find him on Twitter @AskDoctorZak.

Dr Uddin’s advice is provided in good faith and in accordance with currently accepted evidence. However, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

You should always seek the advice of a GP, or other qualified health provider, regarding a medical condition.