SkinRepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have dark inner thighs.  Will laser work to lighten the area?  What other solutions are available for me?

Cherry

Dear Cherry,

Almost all men and women deal with this problem. Darkening of the inner thigh and groin area is caused by friction. Rubbing of our thighs together when we walk, rubbing of (tight) pants on the area, and even using tight underwear can take its toll.

It is relatively normal to have darker skin in that area. If you are extremely bothered, laser is not the solution for you.  Laser whitening can be too harsh for the overlysensitive skin in these parts. It may cause burns or even cause the skin to become too (irreversibly) white

You might want to explore gentler solutions. Example for these is a mild peeling session that you can avail from your PDS dermatologist. This can be performed weekly or ever 2 to 3 weeks. If you don't have time to do frequent visits to your doctor, ask for take home agents that can also work just as well, albeit a little longer. Be patient because it may take one to three months to take effect.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have a pimple in my armpit. I am hoping it is just a simple case of acne that usually goes away by itself, but I have read somewhere that it can also be lymphoma. I'm so tempted to pop it. What should I do?

Clarisa

Dear Clarisa,

First of all, do not pop it.  Any attempts of squeezing a growth on your skin can cause inflammation and may spill the contents of whatever it is unto the underlying, deeper structures.  Although cancer or lymphoma should be the farthest thing from your mind right now, it would be best if you visit your doctor to have it checked if you want to put your mind at ease.

The doctor may recommend some antibiotics either in ointment or oral form if there is an infection present.  If it is a cyst that has gotten too big or painful, you can also have it excised.

If visiting a doctor is not available to you right now (because of school or work), the next best thing to do is to do some warm compress.  This involves dipping a washcloth in clean, warm (not hot) water and applying it over the area for about 15 minutes daily. This will help reduce any swelling and buy you a little bit of time until you can visit your dermatologist.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). For information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/. For questions or concerns, please text to: 0932 857 7070; or email to: [email protected]; or call l The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.