6 ways to lift and firm crepey skin
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How can I stop mosquito bites without using harsh chemicals?
Hello, I'm Liza and this is Age Better and as it is Monday the floor is well and truly yours. So I'm gonna dig into all of your health and wellness questions and answer them with science-backed research to help you age better. Now if you have a question you think I can help you with, please do get in touch. All the contact details are in the episode description and at the end of the show. So, coming up today, then the most effective ways of preventing mosquito bites. I will be sharing my thoughts on that for Sarah. Chrissy is looking for suggestions on how to improve her loose skin. Maria wants to know if antihistamines might help her brain fog and low energy and I'll be sharing my suggestions on contraception with body identical hormones for Megan.
And lastly we are exploring fish oils for Anne who had a question about whether there is a connection to heart problems. Well, let's start with a question from Sarah who got in touch via email. Hi Liz, absolutely love your podcast. It's so accessible. I feel I've learned so much about longevity and health. Well, that's very good, Sarah. Thank you. You say, I wonder if you could help with a supplement question. Years ago, I read that taking vitamin B prevents mosquito bites. I suffered terribly from being bitten, especially when abroad. Taking vitamin B seemed to stop the bites. However, since then, thanks to an ill-advised vitamin B injection, I've also found. Out that vitamin B can also cause huge acne flare ups thanks to my body secreting excess through my skin.
I'd always put post holiday flare ups down to wearing SPF. I now know that's not the case. I'm in my mid forties and when my skin does flare up it really affects my mood and mental health. Do you have any suggestions about what I could take instead of vitamin B that won't cause a flare up in acne but will help prevent mosquito bites? Thanks so much. And that is from Sarah. Ooh, Sarah, that is a very interesting one because the idea that vitamin B can stop mosquitoes biting has been around for years. I remember writing about it back in the day, forty years ago maybe when I was a A budding journalist. Well, the theory is usually that vitamin B one or thiamine somehow changes the way we smell and makes us less attractive to mosquitoes.
And I completely understand why you have carried on taking it if you genuinely noticed fewer bites. But you know, when we look at the research, there isn't really any convincing evidence that taking vitamin B or B supplements in general prevents mosquito bites. So Personally, well, I wouldn't take a B vitamin supplement specifically for that. Not to say that B vitamins aren't important, they absolutely are. You know, we need them for energy metabolism, our nervous system, making red blood cells, all sorts of things. But it's also a good reminder that when it comes to supplements, you know, more isn't necessarily better. And there may well be something in what you have noticed with your skin, Sarah, because high doses of vitamin.
B12 have been linked to acne and acne-like breakouts in those who are susceptible, particularly following injections. And B6 actually has also been implicated. So I don't think it's quite as simple as your body secreting the excess vitamin through the skin. With B12, there's some really fascinating research actually suggesting that high levels can alter the activity of bacteria. Living on the skin, but which can then increase inflammation. I think that's another example of why the skin's microbiome is so important in all of this and why we disrupt it at our peril, often with things like SPF, for example. There are other examples of supplements causing problems when we take too much, so vitamin B six is a particularly important one.
Because if you have too much, it can damage nerves, it can cause tingling or numbness or burning. So yeah, you know, I am a great believer in supplements in the right case, but at the right dose and for the right reasons. So for me, I would say focus on gut health for acne flares, you know, kefir actually, interestingly, has been shown to be helpful for some.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How can I stop mosquito bites without using harsh chemicals?
0:02–4:50
2
Does vitamin B really prevent mosquito bites or cause skin break‑outs?
4:50–8:45
3
Why does skin become crepey and loose as we age, especially after menopause?
8:45–12:54
4
Can antihistamines help with perimenopause symptoms like brain fog and low energy?
12:54–17:27
5
What contraception options are safe and effective for women in their 40s?
17:27–22:14
6
Are fish‑oil supplements linked to heart problems or atrial fibrillation?
22:14–26:34
7
Which body‑cream ingredients and retinoids are best for firming crepey skin?
26:34–30:30
8
How can strength training and protein‑rich diets improve skin firmness?
30:30–34:18
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Age Better with Liz Earle
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Why metabolic health matters more than weight – with Ashley Koff
Strength training vs swimming – which is best after 45?
What menopause really does to your brain, heart, gut, bones and skin – with Professor Mary Ryan
Subtle skin ‘tweakments’ for the ultimate confidence boost – with Dr Maude Calveley
7 ways to stop mindless snacking without relying on willpower