How to retreat when the boss is making advances

I work in an advertising company where there are a lot of talented, handsome men. A lot of them flirt with me but I am too shy to flirt because I am scared to be labeled a tease. Recently, however, one of the bosses started to blatantly flirt with me to the point that he was making "chancing," as they say in Filipino. He is married and even if he is good-looking, I have no intention of flirting back or accepting any invitation from him. Sometimes, I can’t stand his aggressiveness but I don’t know how to deal with it. I’ve read so much about sexual harassment cases but I don’t know what is what. Are this man’s advances considered sexual harassment? I am not enjoying my work because of him. – Pamela

In layman’s terms, sexual harassment is when there are unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any abuse of a sexual nature. It is illegal, and an employee has rights, no matter how junior her position. Victims of sexual harassment should speak to their supervisor or human resources department. They will most likely ask you to record the specific incidents and dates. A boss should never ask his or her assistant out. If the assistant is attracted to his or her supervisor, and the supervisor seems to share this affection, they should begin the relationship cautiously as complications involving all professional contacts should be considered.

* * * Skin-Deep Problems

I have always had problems with my skin. I am in my late 30s and my skin looks like leather. What should I do to help improve my skin condition or is it too late? – Patsy

It’s never too late. According to a leading dermatologist in the United States, there are ways to nourish skin but you have to be vigilant about it:

a) Wear sunblock daily. Even SPF 15 on mild sunny days would help. The sun breaks down the skin’s natural collagen.

b) Clean living is very important. Fifty percent of the skin’s aging problems is due to poor health. Sleep well, eat a balanced diet, and don’t smoke!

c) Massage anti-aging cream daily onto skin, such as Chanel’s Precision Ultra Corrective Wrinkle Restructuring Cream. If you go to Shanghai or Beijing, there’s the Yue Sai Kan Anti-Aging Cream by Coty that is very effective in moisturizing and minimizing fine lines as it exfoliates mildly. Most department stores carry this brand.

d) Exfoliate chemically. This helps the skin get rid of impurities and protects it from free radicals. Renova with tretinoin is a powerful exfoliant, as is Retin A. They also take out fine lines. But read the directions carefully. One cannot expose oneself to the sun without a powerful sunblock when using these products. There are also AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) that are mild exfoliants. Go to the beauty counter of a department store and get a good one from a good brand like Estee Lauder, Revlon, Clarins, etc...

* * * Teeth For Tat

I have very yellow teeth and it makes me self-conscious when I smile. I’ve tried all the toothpaste brands that have whitening ingredients to no effect. I heard that there are now dentists doing teeth bleaching. How true is this and how much does it cost? – Melanie

Yes, many dentists now do teeth bleaching. They get a mold of your teeth and then create a plastic tray that fits the teeth perfectly, where you put the bleaching gel. Then you put this tray on your teeth for several hours a day for one week. The effect is dramatic. However, you have to do a maintenance program. There are bleaching toothpaste brands on the market now and one of most popular is Crest White strips. This gets at stains below the enamel surface and whitens 10 times better than any toothpaste in just two weeks. I saw it in pharmacies in the USA and noticed that it sold like pancakes so it must be good. I just don’t know if it’s available locally. Go to their website, www.whitestrips.com, and read what it’s all about.

There are other ways of bleaching now: Laser is getting to be popular as it is faster. But some say that it makes the teeth porous. My girlfriend who’s had it ends up with bluish teeth every time she drinks wine, though one toothbrushing restores her teeth back to white. Discuss this with your dentist and see what works well for you. It shouldn’t cost more than P8,000 to P10,000. If you send me a self-addressed envelope I can recommend you some dentists who do this.

* * * What Are The Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism?

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism and what kind of doctor should I go to for consultation? I’ve been feeling so lousy these days that I thought I was pregnant. I would sleep for 10 hours then I would still take a nap. I constantly feel fatigue even if I’m not doing much. I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. My husband says I look lousy as I am gaining weight and I don’t think I am eating a lot. I have all the symptoms of pregnancy but I am not pregnant. Someone told me maybe my thyroid gland is not functioning or something like that. We don’t have this sickness in my family so I am practically ruling it out. – Lydia

Do not rule out the possibility of a thyroid dysfunction. For this, you must go to an endocrinologist. For your information: As many as 10 percent of women develop a thyroid problem after giving birth. The most common single disorder is an autoimmune disorder in which the body "fights" itself, resulting in an underactive thyroid. Symptoms of hypothyroidism: weight gain and inability to lose weight, feeling cold, constipation, dry skin, dry hair, hair loss, (eyebrows too) high cholesterol that doesn’t submit to drugs or diet, drastically reduced sex drive and brain fog. It can also prevent you from getting or staying pregnant and cause a full feeling neck, swollen hands and feet, muscle pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and other forms of tendonitis. In short, you really feel lousy. So don’t waste any time and consult a doctor ASAP. I hate to be an alarmist but don’t take your condition lightly. Statistics indicate that five to seven times, thyroidism afflict women more than men.

* * * Caviar: To Indulge Or Not To Indulge

This may sound fishy, but I heard that caviar can help chase away the blues. I read it somewhere but my household help threw away the article. I had a discussion with my friends who love caviar but don’t want to indulge in it as they claim it is very unhealthy and high in uric content. – Daniel

Early research suggests that people suffering from depression, bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) and other mental health problems can benefit from diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids – found in abundance in certain types of fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, sardines and anchovies, caviar and some nuts and flaxseeds. Studies also indicate that omega 3 can benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis, stomach or intestinal diseases and certain cancers. Omega 3, according to studies, also improves mood disorders. Fish oil supplements are rich in Omega 3 and are found in health stores like GNC and Healthy Options; they have health benefits especially as most of us don’t get the daily recommended dose in our diet.