This has caused great concern among the medical professor, and led some doctors to mount what can only be described as a crusade against the whole idea of food intolerance as a commonplace illness. Qualified and reputable private practitioners working in this area have found themselves as much under attack as the unqualified practitioners – everyone has been ‘tarred with the same brush’. These vociferous critics have been very influential, and the air of controversy and doubt that surrounds food intolerance owes a lot to their activities.

While their anger at cases of malnutrition is entirely understandable, in a sense these doctors are helping to perpetuate the very situation they deplore. The reluctance of most family doctors and consultants to take food intolerance seriously undoubtedly springs from its disreputable image, rather than from a careful weighing of the scientific evidence. Unable to get help from their doctors, patients who think that food might be at the root of their problems turn to alternative practitioners, and so the situation is perpetuated.

Of course doctors should not go along with every fashionable therapy, simply because there is a demand for it from their patients. And of course there are some ailments that really are incurable, and for which ‘you’ll just have to learn to live with it’ is the best advice. But we believe that the scientific evidence is now strong enough to merit a major medical rethink on food intolerance. That same evidence suggests that common illnesses such as migraine, irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis should not be regarded as ‘incurable’ in all patients. For a significant number of people, eliminating certain foods can bring relief from such symptoms.

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The disadvantages of Retin-A include the need for regular applications, or else the original skin condition will return, and it can cause the skin to become extremely sensitive to the sun, necessitating the use of potent sun blocks all year. It can also cause dryness, blotchiness and redness. While the cream is approved for use as an acne treatment, The FDA has not yet approved Retin-A as an anti-aging medication. The treatment, including an office visit and the cream or gel prescription, costs about $100 a year.

According to the results of a 30-month study, most of the wrinkle-removing effects of Retin-A occur within the first six months of use. The study also suggests that for many people, treatment with Retin-A beyond a year or so is not necessary.

Researchers at Washington Hospital Center revealed that about 50 percent of the 486 people who participated in the study no longer needed Retin-A as a wrinkle remover after 12 to 18 months of treatment. The rest of the subjects in the study required regular “maintenance” doses one to three times a week.

The researchers involved in the nine-hospital study, hope the new information will prompt the FDA to approve Retin-A for commercial cosmetic use.

2) Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)— a dermatologist can prescribe one of six types of acids which are derived from fruit, milk and other natural sources. The acids, available by prescription in cream form, are usually prescribed for people who are allergic to Retin-A. Alpha hydroxy acids are used during the day, under makeup and with a sunblock. They can reduce surface lines, helping to restore a more youthful appearance.

The disadvantages to AHAs are the same as those for Retin-A, although they are not quite as drying. AHA treatment costs the fee of an office visit, plus about $50 for the prescribed cream.

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