Drank too much at the party? Can’t seem to shift the sniffles? Simply follow our guide to surviving seasonal ills, writes Kate Whiting.

It has been one Christmas party after another, and all those vodka-tonics have finally caught up with you. If you seem to have a permanently sore head and a constant ringing in your ears, don’t think the ‘hair of the dog’ is going to help!

What to do: Most hangover symptoms are caused by dehydration, as alcohol is a diuretic. It also eats up the body’s store of vitamins and minerals, and reduces blood sugar levels — which might explain the throbbing headache.

Water, and lots of it, is the best cure. In fact, following every alcoholic drink on a night out with a glass of water is said to help stave off a hangover.

But if you are still suffering the next day, a cup of thin veggie-based broth made from bouillon should help replace your body’s lost vitamins and minerals.

Or try the new effervescent tablet from Berocca, Berocca Boost, pictured below, which is packed with vitamins, minerals and guarana (£5.99 for ten tablets from most supermarkets and pharmacies).

Indigestion

Overdone it on the turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, chocolate log, cheese and those few mince pies you nibbled on? If you are feeling bloated, or have any discomfort in your chest or stomach, it is most likely due to indigestion.

What to do: Indigestion is caused by acid reflux, when the acid in your stomach escapes into your digestive system. The best way to reduce symptoms is by taking over-the-counter antacids like Maalox, which neutralise the acid. Eating slowly will also help. If you have indigestion frequently, you should see your doctor, as it could be due to a more serious health problem.

Funky feet

Brand new stilettos and a tipsy night could leave your feet in agony. Blisters, swollen toes and even a sprained ankle could be yours for the taking, so take some precautions and learn how to dance the night away safely — ideally in flat shoes.

What to do: If high heels are a must, banish the pain when you get home by using a cooling pack of ice cubes wrapped in a towel, to reduce any swelling and pain.

Try elevating your feet by putting a pillow under them — even while you sleep — to help reduce inflammation.

If you are still suffering the next day, why not indulge in a soothing foot spa, like Scholl’s Feet Treat Foot Spa, £29.99, available from www.argos.co.uk

Colds and flu

The brand new little black dress does look lovely, but after going out in it without your woolly scarf and hat, it is no surprise you are now feeling under the weather. If you are coughing and spluttering and stuck in bed, you will wish you had followed some simple advice on how to tackle colds and flu.

What to do: Rest at home by keeping warm under the duvet and take paracetamol, or ibuprofen, which will relieve the symptoms (Boots Rapid Ibuprofen, £2.99 for 16 tablets).

Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to flush out your system, and avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee, as they will just make you more dehydrated.

A good quality tissue like Kleenex Anti-Viral (£2.79 from www.lloydspharmacy.com) can kill 99.9 per cent of all cold and flu viruses in the tissue, reducing your chances of spreading your cold — or catching it from a friend.

A honey and lemon lozenge like Boots Sore Throat Relief Dual Action Lozenges, £1.65, pictured right, which contains anaesthetic and antiseptic, will soothe pain and help fight infection.

Dry skin

If make-up is a must and you have been wearing more than normal to all the seasonal parties, you might find that your skin feels tight, dry and stretched. It could also be the weather. Cold air outside and central heating inside play havoc with the body’s natural oils. Sometimes it can even cause little white patches of dead skin to form around the nose and chin.

What to do: Drink water and herbal teas to help keep the body hydrated. Coffee and black tea tend to dry out the skin, so keep those to a minimum. Wash with warm, not hot, water when you bathe, as hot water extracts moisture from the skin.

Always wash off any make-up at night and use a good moisturiser, like Apicare’s Restore Me Honey Nut Body Butter, which contains manuka honey to hydrate the skin, and is non-sticky (£14.99 from Lloyds Pharmacy and www.simplymanuka.co.uk).

Apply when the skin is still damp to maximise your skin's moisture potential.

Cold sores

No more kissing under the mistletoe for you, now that big red cold sore has appeared on your lip. Picking at it will only make it worse, so avoid touching it if you can. They are also very contagious — so remember to steer clear of anyone else who has one.

What to do: Warm compresses can ease the discomfort, but the best way for you to get rid of a cold sore is to use an over-the-counter cream or medication like Cymex (£2.19 from Boots and other pharmacies). Dab it on instead of rubbing it, and be sure to wash your hands before and after, to limit the spread of the outbreak. Cold sores can also be caused by herpes, so if you get recurring cold sores, you should see your GP. There may be a bigger health problem involved.