Scar

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have thin but dark scars on my legs. These were caused by scratches from my pet dog. I am afraid that at a certain point my legs will turn dark from these scars, what remedy is available for me?  By the way, I have some scratches that are still fresh.

Daisy

Dear Daisy,

First thing's first, let's treat the fresh scratches.  Every time you have a new scratch, whether it bleeds or not, wash it with mild soap and water. You can apply any antibiotic ointment (mupirocin, fusidic acid, betadine, bacitracin, etc) to avoid infection. Check with your pediatrician or internist when your last tetanus shot was, just to make sure you are covered.

Please understand that fresh wounds, no matter how superficial, should not be treated with bleaching soaps or creams. This will cause irritation to the scratch which will lead to delayed healing along with compounding it with a contact dermatitis.  Wait for the scratch to scab, the scab to fall off naturally, and for the skin to turn to any shade of brown before starting a whitening product on it.

Once it has started to become light or dark brown, without a trace of pinkness or redness on it, begin bleaching agents on it. You can use hydroquinone, licorice, vitamin C, kojic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid on it.  Sometimes, your PDS dermatologist can mix up a mild or strong bleach with a combination of the above-mentioned agents. If you are in a hurry to whiten those irritating scars, power peels can be applied. Stay away from TCA (tricholoroacetic acid)-based peels because there have been a lot of burning to these peels lately.

It would be good if you could avoid getting scratched at all (I know it sounds impossible, though). Clipping the dog's nails constantly and wearing protective clothing (leggings or pants) might help, too.

Dear Dr. Jen,

What is the ultimate way to get rid of dandruff? Every time I wear black tops or dark clothing, I get scales on my shoulders. It's very embarrassing.

Lydia

Dear Lydia,

Depending on what kind of "dandruff" you have, the trick is actually in using the right shampoo and following the directions to the T. Some "dandruff" may actually be a case of a fungal infection, some might be a case of seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis, or some may even be a contact dermatitis secondary to hair dye or other hair product.

Some anti-dandruff shampoos require it to be left on the scalp for 5-15 minutes, while some don't necessitate it. Some shampoos need to be used daily, while others can be maintained on twice-a-week or even once a week.  Some people just need a change in shampoo, too.  Take heart, there are many available shampoos (ketoconazole, ciclopiroxolamine, zinvpytithione, clobetasol) out there. Your dermatologist might also opt for a gel type of medication if you do turn out to have psoriasis. Please take time to have it checked by your nearest PDS board certified 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 The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.