Skinrepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have lots of blackheads on my nose. I keep using different brands of nose strips but all the blackheads persist. I don't like going to the salons to have it pricked because I have a very low threshold for pain. How else can I make it go away?

Alex

Dear Alex,

Blackheads are open comedones that have a wide pore opening. It is clogged up with sebum and turns a dark color because of the oxidation of melanin. Most people just scrape it with their fingernail. The more stubborn ones need special care, especially the giant comedones. If you prick and prod at it, you'll only make the hole deeper. 

There are tricks to soften the blackheads before you can actually have it extracted. Pretreating the stubborn blackheads with products containing alpha hydroxyl acids will go a long way for a pain-free session. But if you are against having a facial done, you can just apply adapalene, which comes in gel or cream form. Adapalene is wonderful for slowly but surely getting rid of the stubborn comedones.

It can be tempting to use facial scrubs or exfoliating beads. However, excessive scrubbing can be irritating and be too harsh on your skin. Mild and once weekly scrubbing should be enough. A more even and non-abrasive form of scrubbing is to get a diamond peel. 

Lastly, products that clog your pores and promote oiliness have to be avoided. An important label to look for in any cosmetic is the "noncomedogenic" description. Noncomedogenic products will not obstruct any pores and will not cause build up of sebum. I hope this response will guide you on how to go about managing your blackheads.

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Dear Dr. Jen,

I think I have athlete's foot. My classmates tease me about the bad smell that emanates from my feet after everytime I remove my socks. Please help me. I don't want to have athlete's foot.

Sheena

Dear Sheena,

Athlete's foot is a common concern especially if you live in a warm and humid climate such as ours. This is compounded by the general rule that schools do require socks and closed shoes to be worn at all times. Fungi will happily thrive in an environment such as this.

It might take a while to permanently get rid of Tineapedis. It takes perseverance and patience to do so. Application of antifungal creams such as (terbinafine, ketoconazole and clotrimazole) twice a day to affected areas for about 2 weeks (sometimes even longer) can go a long way. This must be coupled by keeping your feet dry at all times. Remember, sweat and moisture are food for the fungus. If you can have your PDS dermatologist write your teacher a note to excuse you from wearing closed shoes and socks for a short period of time, this will really help. Use of antifungal foot powder and powder with aluminum chloride can also keep feet dry. Don't forget to sprinkle powder in the area between the toes. 

If you find any area in your feet that is somewhat inflamed and macerated, have it checked immediately by your PDS dermatologist. You might have a concomitant bacterial infection on top of the athlete's foot. Make sure to complete the length of treatment until declared fungus-free by your dermatologist. Half-attempts at treatment will only lead to frustration and treatment failure.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). She is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital. For other information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph. If you have any questions or concerns please text 0922 845 5556 or email [email protected].