Warts

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have a lot of warts on my armpits.  What causes them?  I recently gained a lot of weight, if that’s a factor.

Jess

Dear Jess,

Are your underarms, neck and other folds in the body also becoming dark and developing skin tags?  The skin can be thick and velvety.  In some cases, there may be an odor as well. If so, it can be a result of the weight gain indeed.  Acanthosis nigricans can be seen as dark, velvety discoloration on body creases such as the neck, armpits and the groin.  This is most commonly seen in obese or diabetic individuals.

Skin tags are often labeled as warts.  They grow in areas where skin-to-skin friction, such as the body creases, is common. Some people develop skin tags as a result of genetic predisposition, diabetes or may be viral warts.

Warts and skin tags can be removed via snip excision, laser or cautery.  However, as far as acanthosis nigricans is concerned, weight loss is one of the foundations of treatment for the darkening of the skin. No amount of chemical peels or bleaching agents will reverse the acanthosis process.  You can have your skin checked by your nearest PDS dermatologist.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I’m possibly allergic to my compression stockings.  I get itchy rashes on the tops of my thighs after a day of wearing stockings.  My doctor, however, says I need it for my  DVT (deep vein thrombosis).  Is there a cream you can recommend that will lessen the allergic reaction I am getting?

Jillyn

Dear Jillyn,

Most compression stockings, especially those that are knee-high or thigh-high, have a rubbery part at the top to prevent it from slipping down.  This part is allergenic and is made from neoprene.  This becomes very itchy after a long day of wearing it.  The rashes can be annoyingly itchy and can eventually become brown in color.

Anti-allergy creams such as hydrocortisone or betamethasone can help alleviate the itching.  However, you might benefit from switching to a panty-hose style stockings to avoid having a rubbery neoprene material that is common in thigh or knee level stockings.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with the Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). Information on PDS is at www.pds.org.ph. Questions or concerns regarding the skin may be sent by text to 0932 857 7070 or emailed to [email protected]; or coursed thru The Freeman – (032) 2531276, or thru PSH – (032) 2338620 and 2325929. Inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.