Pimple

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have a pimple on my tummy and it’s been there for five days already. I rarely get pimples on my face.  I tried to apply some anti-acne toner on this one but it has only gotten bigger. It’s so weird that it is growing on my stomach.  What can I apply on it?

Joey

Dear Joey,

It might not be a pimple but a folliculitis, which is basically a follicle that became inflamed. There can be some redness, bulging, pain and warmth over the area.  Bacteria is often found in these follicles.  The smaller boils will respond to anti-bacterial creams and ointments that contain fusidic acid or mupirocin.  The more advanced the boil is, the stronger the medicine it may require to treat it. Pus can accumulate in the later stage and may necessitate drainage.

Aside from antibacterial ointments, warm compress can also hasten healing.  If the boil isn’t responding to the ointment after 3 to 4 days, go see your doctor because you may need oral antibiotics.  Don’t be tempted to press or push on it.

Dear Dr. Jen,

There is a wart on my toe nail.  It has been bothering me for a few years already. No matter how frequently my “manicurista” cleans it, it keeps coming back.  I tried having it cauterized once, but it still came back.  What treatment can you recommend?

Lori

Dear Lori,

Warts are the most bothersome thing to happen to toe nails! You can get your nails infected by having someone use an infected nipper or nail clipper on you.  Most salons only have a regular sterilizer that may not eliminate these stubborn viral warts.

While cautery may remove the warts in some cases, several factors have to be considered in its recurrence. If the wart has infiltrated deep into the nail, cautery may not be able to remove it completely.  If you continue to use infected nail clippers or nippers after the wart has been removed, you will only re-infect yourself. Throw away all nail paraphernalia after you get the wart removed.

Liquid nitrogen can remove some warts but may not work for the deeper ones.  Laser can get to the deeper warts most of the time. Some PDS dermas inject anti-wart medication into the area and it will slough off over time.

Make sure to eliminate the virus that may remain in your shoes. Always wash your hands after touching the wart.  Change your socks daily.  And lastly, don’t pick on the warts as this may spread the infection to other parts of the body.

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 The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.