Lara Jones, East Midlands

A. Your rash sounds like keratosis pilaris, a common hereditary skin condition where the skin on the backs of the upper arms has the appearance of goosebumps due to small, firm plugs forming in the hair follicles. Following a therapeutic, nutritious diet with an increased intake of fatty acids can improve this condition. Try including flax and hemp seeds and oil in your diet, together with good sources of oily fish such as wild Alaskan salmon. You should also take a teaspoon of a pure fish oil such as Eskimo-3 oil (£21.95 for 210ml, from Nutri; 01663 718850) morning and night.

I know that Dr Maria McGee, who suffers from keratosis pilaris, has achieved excellent results by rubbing a bar of neem-oil soap, which she created, directly over the areas involved and massaging the lather well into the skin. Once it is dry, she applies SurgiSalve, a moisturiser that contains hand-blended shea butter and jojoba — and no other ingredients or preservatives. SurgiSalve costs £5.49 for 50ml, a bar of neem soap £3.99; both from www.marblehillnaturally.com.

Q. My five-year-old daughter came home from school with lice. I was advised by the local pharmacist to use a conventional lice treatment. However, it was not effective and, worse still, her scalp reacted badly to it. On researching further, I was mortified to find that it contained organophosphates (related to sheep-dip chemicals). Is there an alternative?

Evie Jones, Cardiff

A. Head lice are tiny insects, roughly the size of a pinhead, that are yellow-brown in colour, or dark red if they have been feeding. They live on human heads and are transferred by head-to-head contact.

You will be interested to know that Dr Gerald Coles, senior researcher in parasitology at Bristol University, has stated in the British Journal of Dermatology that “there is widespread resistance in head lice to chemical treatments containing synthetic insecticides”. He went on to say that “some of these chemical products can cause side effects such as wheezing, inflammation of the skin and skin irritation”.

His solution is a natural coconut-based remedy, Lice Attack, which is non-toxic but highly effective. The Lice Attack shampoo is simply massaged thoroughly onto dry hair for five minutes, then left on for 15 minutes to take full effect. After rinsing, comb carefully with the fine louse comb provided to ensure the clearance of head lice and remaining loosened nits. Repeat on days 7 and 14. Lice Attack (£12.49 for 300ml) is available from Boots and other good pharmacies.

Q. I wrote to you a few weeks ago regarding post-menopausal distress — thinning and drying of vaginal walls, and painful sex. There has been no reply in your column, nor has this problem been addressed before. It causes a great deal of anxiety, and if you can’t offer a solution, maybe you can say so publicly.

Name and address withheld

A. I am sorry that you missed my column on January 22, 2006, which covered the subject of vaginal dryness.

The remedy I suggested was a Himalayan berry called sea buckthorn, which is one of the few rich sources of omega-7 essential fatty acids, an important component of cell membranes. Take two capsules of Pharma Nord’s Omega 7 Sea Buckthorn Oil (£12.95 for 60 caps) twice a day for two months, then reduce the dose to one twice per day — and be patient, as it will not work overnight.

The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Michael Dooley, who co-wrote Your Change, Your Choice: The Integrated Approach to Looking and Feeling Good through the Menopause and Beyond (£12.99) with Sarah Stacey, advises that you see your GP to ensure there is no infection, asking them to look for atrophic vaginal walls (which can look like a sore grazed knee) and to examine your cervix.

He also advises adequate foreplay with lubrication. Two natural lubricants are Sylk, derived from an extract of the kiwi-fruit vine (£9.99 for 40mg), and V Gel, which contains organic aloe vera gel, marigold and comfrey extracts, vitamins A and E, and zinc (£10.90 for 75ml). All products can be bought from the Nutri Centre; 0800 5872290.

Jennifer Harper-Deacon is a registered naturopathic physician. For more information, visit www.jenniferharper-deacon.com

Find an archive of articles by Jennifer Harper-Deacon at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,27069,00.html

If you have any questions or tips, write to What’s the Alternative? Style, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST. We can only provide replies to published letters

Before following any recommendation in this column, it is important to consult your GP if you suffer from any health problems or special conditions, or are in doubt as to its suitability