Is your body ready for summer?

Don't fake tan over the cracks this summer with our head-to-toe health guide. From your eyes to your big toe, we reveal how to get yourself ready for exposure - and offer advice on some common complaints.

Shaping up for summer is about more than hitting the gym. Before you expose your body to the sun, and the rest of the world, give it a health workout. We reveal how to deal with any problems that have been out of sight and out of mind over winter, and that could stop you from looking your best.

Follow our top-to-toe shape-up, and you can enjoy whatever summer brings with total confidence.

The eyes have it

Sparkling eyes are very attractive but they can be the first thing to suffer as the weather gets warmer. Hay fever can make eyes tired and red. So if you're suffering, go to the pharmacy and get over-the-counter drops to help you out. If you're on any other medication, make sure you ask the advice of the pharmacist.

Many people also find that excess light makes their eyes watery and itchy. If you are "photo sensitive" then make sure you get good protection from sunglasses.

Look out for spectacles that have a complete UV block. Often cheaper frames don't have any block at all, which means your pupils will open up under the lens and let in ultraviolet rays, doing them more harm than good. Sunglasses are very important because the sun's rays can do long-term damage to the eyes, causing everything from burnt eyelids to small tumours.

Dry eyes are another problem in hotter weather conditions. If you're suffering, get artificial tears from the pharmacist to keep them from drying out.

But even if you want bright eyes immediately, stay clear of eye whiteners - they contain a chemical which constricts blood vessels and can hide problems in the eye. Also, you can get rebound redness when you stop using them.

Get under your skin

Is your skin ready to be revealed to the world? A few simple additions to your routine could iron out many summer skin problems.

If you suffer from dry skin and want to get it silky smooth in time for summer, the key is to moisturise often - not just once a day. Steer well clear of harsh cleansing products containing alcohol which can strip the skin of its natural oils, so use a mild, hydrating cleanser instead.

If your skin reacts to different products by stinging, burning, becoming blotchy or developing a rash, try swapping to ones labelled as suitable for sensitive skin, or labelled "hypoallergenic".

Lanolin and fragrance are sometimes responsible for irritation, so try ruling these ingredients out and see if your skin improves. If your reactions persist, a dermatologist can perform a patch test that will show you which ingredients are suitable for your skin and which are best avoided.

Swapping regular products for a pH-balanced, soap-free cleanser followed by a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturiser will help to protect the barrier function of your skin.

Oily and acne-prone skin benefits from oil-free, non-comedogenic products, which means they won't block pores. If you suffer from spots, look out for products containing salicylic or azelaic acid, or benzoyl peroxide, which can help stop the blocked pores that lead to spots. These are available in products available from the chemist.

Many people find tea tree oil helpful in combating problem skin. If this doesn't work after a couple of months, talk to your GP who can prescribe treatments or may refer you to a dermatologist.

It's natural to want smooth skin in time for swimsuit season, but be careful. Exfoliation can actually damage the skin by removing its protective layer, so be gentle, and only exfoliate once a week.

Tummy troubles

There's nothing worse than a pot belly when summer and its clinging and revealing fashions come around. But before you start daily stomach crunches, take note that your round tummy could be a health issue which is easy to solve.

Although every person is different, there are some basic ideas to control bloating that are easy to follow. Many people suffer from constipation and bloating because they're not getting exercise and not eating enough fibre. The gut needs fibre to keep it working efficiently. And exercise literally encourages food to move around the system.

Keeping the lower part of the body mobile makes the poo move down! But be careful how you introduce fibre into your diet. Do it gradually so your body can get used to it and doesn't bloat.

Over the last few years probiotic yoghurts, containing "friendly bacteria" thought to encourage a healthy gut, have become very popular. But maintaining a varied diet is probably the most effective way to get a flat, healthy stomach.

Another source of a round tummy could be a high salt diet. Lots of salt can lead to water retention and bloating. Constipation can also be caused by dehydration. So drink lots of water.

Swapping to wholegrains can also help, by upping your fibre intake - but ignore anyone who tells you that white or refined grains can over-stimulate the body's insulin and make you store tummy fat.

You get fat if you eat too many calories and don't exercise enough. It's as simple as that.

Lovely legs

Varicose veins are depressing at best, and completely confidence shattering at worst. But luckily getting them removed is no longer the long and painful process it once was.

In the old days, before the advent of special scanning, the surgery was hit and miss. Now, new techniques mean the problem can be investigated more thoroughly and perform less invasive surgery may be performed. Treatments range from injections to outpatient procedures under local anaesthetic such as foam sclerotherapy and endo-venous laser treatment.

Often the patient will walk out the same day in compression stockings. In more extreme cases you may end up having the veins stripped out - but the recovery time is still only a week.

Unfortunately there is no way to stop varicose veins from developing. They're largely genetic. An elasticated stocking will relieve symptoms such as aching, itching and swelling, but not get rid of them or stop them getting worse.