Time wounds all heels

Dear Rissa,

My tita just came home from the States two weeks ago and gave me a new pair of shoes as pasalubong. I was so excited to use them of course! So during our last week of school, I wore them everyday. My problem now is that since they hadn’t been broken in, my shoes were a little too snug at first. They weren’t very comfortable during the first few days I used them. I decided to give my new shoes (and feet!) a rest because I now have blisters at the heel of my foot and some calluses on my toes. I feel so miserable because I have to settle for wearing sandals and slippers so my calluses and blisters don’t get worse. How can I treat them ASAP? Hope you can give advice. — Twinkle Toes

That really sucks. I know how it feels when you’ve got a new pair of shoes that you love to death and want to wear everyday! I’d even match my outfits to my shoes-of-the-moment just so I could wear them the whole week! But what spoils the excitement is when your feet no longer look and feel beautiful next to those lovely shoes.

When your shoes are tight, your skin’s natural defense is to thicken in reaction to the friction. What you can do is try having your shoes stretched (provided that they’re leather) at Mr. Quickie or Heel Sew Quick. It costs around P60-P70 only. It’ll take one to three days before you can slip into those shoes again. Perhaps your tita bought you shoes half a size smaller than you wear. Then again, it could be your correct shoe size but the shape or width of the shoe might be a little narrow for your feet.

In the meantime, treat your blisters by putting on a Band-Aid. This will protect it from further friction. You can pop your blister using a sterile needle but do not peel off the skin. Simply place a Band-Aid over the affected area to protect it and allow it to heal. Stockings and foot powder can also help lessen friction on your feet.

As for your calluses, go get yourself over-the-counter corn and callus removers. Dr. Scholl has always been the best! But since these products are acidic, using too much than needed can cause wounds! That’s why dermatologist Dr. Clare Palabyab of Medical City warns that you should always read the instructions and follow them correctly. And when your feet are healed and happy already, keep them soft and smooth by moisturizing them too! Now you can put your best foot forward!

Zap Those Zits On Your Back

Dear Rissa,

I feel so embarrassed. I have pimples on my back! I’ve never had them before and I’m not really sure what caused them. They aren’t that many, I can still count them with one hand. But they’re bothering me. I want to get rid of them soon because after Christmas, I’m spending New Year in Boracay with my barkada and boyfriend! We planned this two months ago and I’m very excited. My friends and I even went shopping for beachwear. I really, really don’t want my pimples to spoil this trip! What’s the quickest way to get rid of them? Super help! — Bianca

I used to have pimples on my back when I was in college. But before I treated those ugly zits, the very first thing I did was look for the cause of the problem. Treatment may make those pimples temporarily disappear but to keep them away forever, you have to get to the root of it all. In my case, it was stress. All those school projects and papers kept me up studying till early morning. Yup, anxiety can aggravate acne. It seems that stress can increase the production of some hormones which affect the sebaceous glands.

On the other hand, sensitivity to your shampoo can cause an allergy-like reaction to it. My friend’s smooth back was one day filled with unsightly zits! A visit to her dermatologist proved that her new shampoo was the evil culprit! Your back could be as sensitive too! (Or your shampoo as harsh!) So a visit to your dermatologist would definitely help clarify the problem — and your back!

Banishing those pimples permanently is no hard task. Treat your back the same way you treat your face. First of all, always keep your back clean. As you step into the shower, don’t neglect washing your back. Though the back is quite hard to reach, that extra stretch will be worth it. In treating those zits, you can use the same products you use to treat the pimples on your face (unless your pimples are a special case and your dermatologist specifically prescribes otherwise). After all, it’s the same zit — only it’s now located on your back. And while those zits haven’t made their disappearing act, you can hide them by using a medicated concealer such as L’Oreal’s Pimple Concealer. It’s got anti-bacterial agents that can help zap those zits goodbye.

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E-mail your questions and comments to: rissa_ms@hotmail.com