WE’VE all been there: faced with a health issue we’re too embarrassed to talk about.
Whether it’s your feet smelling bad no matter how much you scrub, or those awkward bedroom moments happening a little too often, these things can be tough to discuss in public – even with a doctor.
“Many people experience health conditions that can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing to talk about, but they are more common than most realise,” explains Niamh McMillan, a pharmacy superintendent at Superdrug.
From excessive sweating to hemorrhoids, these concerns often go untreated or ignored because of stigma.
Niamh highlights six of the most embarrassing health issues Brits face and how to deal with them.
1. Bad breath
Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, affects many people but is often left unspoken.
“It’s typically caused by poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, or other underlying health factors,” explains Niamh.
How to fix it: Proper care, including regular dental visits and good oral hygiene, can help manage the condition.
The expert recommends using a tongue cleaner and a water flosser, which you should be able to get from most local pharmacies.
2. Smelly feet
Smelly feet, or bromodosis, is caused by a build-up of sweat, bacteria, and poor shoe ventilation.
“While it’s not a serious health concern, it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing,” says Niamh.
How to fix it: Practice good food foot hygiene by wearing breathable shoes. Using odour-controlling products like deofresh insoles can also help, Niamh adds.
“They contain a powerful antibacterial agent that helps fight the bacteria causing foot odour.”
3. Body odour
Excessive sweating and body odour aren’t just problems in summer.
“This can occur all year round and is often linked to factors such as stress, diet, or hormonal changes,” Niamh explains.
“It happens when sweat mixes with bacteria on the skin.”
How to fix it: Have a shower or bath every day, use deodorant, and clothing choices can all help.
“But for persistent body odour, a healthcare professional can help identify any underlying causes and guide treatment,” Niamh advises.
4. Sexually transmitted infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and genital herpes, are common and often go undiagnosed because they may not show immediate symptoms.
“If untreated, STIs can lead to serious complications (including infertility in some cases) so it’s important to stay vigilant,” says Niamh.
How to fix it: Practice safe sex, get tested regularly and have open communication with all partners
For those too embarrassed to visit a clinic, Niamh suggests using Superdrug online doctor, which offers discreet at-home STI testing kits, that can give results and advice from doctors within 72 hours.
5. Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, affects men of all ages.
It can be linked to physical health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health factors such as stress.
“ED can also be influenced by lifestyle factors, such as stress, relationship issues, or excessive alcohol consumption,” Niamh adds.
How to fix it: Follow a healthy lifestyle, which can involve losing weight, exercising, and reducing stress
“Superdrug online doctor offers a discreet erectile dysfunction test along with a range of effective treatments,” says Niamh.
6. Haemorrhoids
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anus, causing symptoms like bleeding, discomfort, and itching.
“They can develop due to factors such as straining, pregnancy, or prolonged sitting,” says Niamh.
How to fix it: “Simple lifestyle changes, like drinking plenty of fluids and increasing your fibre intake, can help ease constipation,” she adds.
For treatment, Niamh recommends trying a haemorrhoid treatment gel, which she says can help to “reduce irritation, swelling, and pain, while also protecting the skin”.
Is there a cure for erectile dysfunction?
THERE is no one single cure to beat ED, but rather a combination of lifestyle monitoring, medication and therapy.
Various treatments for erectile dysfunction are available – but they depend on the underlying reasons for the condition.
Some of the causes can be treated with medication, but in other cases it’s a matter of making some lifestyle changes.
Health specialists will often treat impotence by targeting an underlying health condition which is causing it such as heart disease or diabetes.
Lifestyle changes are also recommended such as losing weight, quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, exercising more, and reducing stress.
Viagra, a medication to help erectile dysfunction, is now available over the counter in the UK.
Aside from that, Cialis, Levitra, and Spedra can also be prescribed.
These drugs are known a Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors.
However, these medications should be used with caution in men who have heart problems.
