Back hair

By the mid-20s, a man will know his back hair destiny: barely there, a few tufts or full and bushy. Is yours a magnet for women? Or a throwback to the Stone Age? If you want to tame the fur, laser hair removal can thin back hair or remove it all, and the results are nearly permanent. Cheaper options include waxing, hair removal creams and razors, with results that last up to a few weeks.

Beer belly

You don't have to drink beer to get a beer belly. Men are more likely to gain fat around the waist, so anything fattening can pad the paunch. Unfortunately, belly fat raises the risk of heart disease, especially if your waist size is more than 102 cm (40 inches). However, there is good news: If you follow a weight loss plan, belly fat is often the first to go.

Excessive sweating

Men have a higher "sweat output" than women. That's a fact, but if you always need to wipe your hands or often sweat through your clothes, it may be more than a "man" thing. It could be excessive sweating, called hyperhidrosis. Emotions or heat can trigger the downpour - or there can be no trigger at all. It usually affects the armpits, palms or soles of the feet. Effective treatments are available and the first step is to consult a health professional.

Unibrow

Now here's a hair problem that affects men of all ages. The same hormones that make your beard grow can make your eyebrows so thick and bushy that they meet in the centre. "Unibrow" is the most common reason young men get electrolysis. This procedure uses tiny electric shocks to permanently destroy the hair follicles. Waxing is another way to shape your brows, but it must be repeated every four to six weeks.

Razor bumps

You work hard for that close shave. So it can be exasperating when small bumps mar your otherwise smooth skin. Razor bumps form when hairs curl back on themselves and grow into the skin. They're most common in African-Caribbean men and men with curly hair. To keep the bumps at bay, take a hot shower before shaving. Apply a thick gel and always shave in the direction your beard grows.

Rosacea

Maybe it's not embarrassment that's causing all that blushing. Rosacea is a condition that causes the face to flush, and symptoms tend to be worse in men. The nose may become thick, red or bulbous. Pimples and tiny red lines can appear on the cheeks. Alcohol can trigger a flare-up, but the distinctive, red nose of rosacea can occur in a teetotaller. Medication can prevent it from getting worse, so discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

Receding hairline

The painful truth is most men have noticeably thinner hair by the age of 35 and significant hair loss by age 50. The pattern usually begins with a receding hairline and may progress to bald spots on the top of the scalp. Hair restoration surgery offers a way to reduce bald patches. Over the counter and prescription treatments are available to help prevent further hair loss and promote new hair growth. Seek medical advice to rule out an underlying medical cause for hair loss.

Colour blindness

Colour vision deficiency - also known as colour blindness usually does not mean seeing the world in black and white. It’s a condition that affects around one in 12 men in the UK, the most common form makes it difficult to tell red from green,. The way the condition is inherited makes it far less common in women. There’s no treatment, but most people can learn to work around the colour confusion.

Snoring

Face the music: snoring is a certain way to disrupt your bed partner's sleep, and men are more likely to be the perpetrators. In most cases, snoring is not harmful. However, snoring regularly can chip away at the quality of your own sleep. It can also be a sign of a more serious problem called sleep apnoea. If you feel snoring is disrupting you or your partner’s sleep, seek medical advice.

Belching

Burping may not be the picture of politeness in British society, but in some cultures a hearty belch shows appreciation for a good meal. In either case, burping a few times after eating is normal. It's the body's way of freeing the air that you've swallowed. Frequent burping combined with other symptoms, such as nausea or stomach pain, could be a sign of a digestive disorder. Seek medical advice if the problem continues.

Wind

Perhaps no bodily function has inspired as many jokes as wind. While the sound and smell can be embarrassing, passing wind is harmless. It's nothing more than air moving through the digestive tract or gas from the breakdown of food by bacteria in your gut coming out - well, we all know where. Wind facts:

• Most people pass wind 6-30 times a day.
• Beer, fizzy drinks, beans and many fruits and vegetables are all likely to give you wind.
• Foods that cause wind differ for each person.

Body odour

Whether you're working hard or playing hard, any strenuous activity can result in strong body odour. The culprit is not sweat itself but the bacteria that use sweaty skin as a breeding ground. You can fight the bacteria by showering regularly with soap and using antiperspirant. Also, wash gym clothes often. If body odour persists, try avoiding smelly foods like garlic and onions.

Jock itch

You don't have to be a professional athlete to get jock itch. This fungal infection spreads easily at your local gym - or from another part of your own body. Hands, towels and stepping into underwear are common culprits. The symptoms include a patchy rash in the groin or on the inner thighs, along with the telltale itching. It's treated with antifungal creams. Keeping the area dry and avoiding tight clothing helps to prevent it.

Athlete's foot

Walking barefoot in changing rooms or near pools is the most common way to pick up this fungal infection. Symptoms include itching, burning, blisters or cracks on the feet and in between the toes. Athlete's foot is treated with antifungal cream. If you have both jock itch and athlete's foot, treat them at the same time.

Ingrown toenails

Grooming your nails may not be the highlight of your day, but it's worth your time to get the job done right. Clumsy nail trimming is the top cause of ingrown toenails, which can cause pain, swelling and infections. The most common mistake is not trimming the nails straight across. Take care when cutting your toenails and don’t cut them too short, and don’t 'dig' around the nail.

Bad breath

You probably know that smelly foods and smoking can sabotage your breath, but the most common culprit is bacteria. When you brush your teeth, brush your tongue as well to banish the bacteria that thrive there. If good hygiene doesn't sweeten your breath, see your dentist and your doctor. Gum disease, dry mouth or acid reflux could be part of the problem.

Sexual dysfunction

Men may not be eager to discuss sexual troubles, but nearly a third of men experience problems. This may include a sagging libido, premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction (ED). ED means a man is unable to develop or sustain an erection for satisfactory sex. Risk factors for ED include diabetes, heart disease, neurological conditions, smoking, circulation problems and some medications. Seek medical advice if you have ED or other sexual problems to help evaluate the problem and get treatment.

Hearing loss

Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women, and noisy jobs may contribute, such as miners, carpenters and soldiers. However, any loud or continuous noise can damage delicate ear structures, including music piped in through earphones. At work, use special ear protection. Keep personal music players at or below 85 decibels (dB). Most can crank up to 105 dB, louder than a motorbike.

Enlarged prostate

Along with wrinkles and grey hair, an enlarged prostate is an unavoidable part of ageing for many men. The medical term is benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, an enlargement of the gland that surrounds the urethra. This growth causes symptoms in about half of men over age 75. As the prostate grows, it may squeeze the urethra, making you feel nature's call more often. There are strategies, medication and surgery to help reduce the symptoms.

Related Reading