Wart

Dear Dr. Jen,

There was a growth on my foot a few months back. It was operated on and the biopsy revealed a wart.  Now it has multiplied and some are even on my other foot. How can I treat the warts?  I tried putting salicylic acid and it hasn’t improved much.

Gerry

Dear Gerry,

Plantar warts or warts on the soles of the feet are usually transmitted by walking barefoot in spas, swimming pools, or gyms. The virus likes warm, moist environments and may also spread in showers and moist rubber or yoga mats.  It can become painful when the warts grow inwards due to the constant pressure on the feet when you walk.

Salicylic may be a good option for small warts.  But once the wart has already enlarged and multiplied, it can be a menace to treat.  Salicylic acid can also burn surrounding normal skin and may give the patient more discomfort. There are many treatment options for plantar warts.  Starting with the least painful is freezing the wart off with liquid nitrogen.  Laser or electrocautery surgery can also be an option.  Warts growing near the nails can become deep-seated and may require injection with anti-wart medication and wait for the wart to slough off (if you don’t want nail surgery performed).

Treatment doesn’t stop here. Make sure to also disinfect your yoga mats, bathroom tiles, footwear and all other things that your feet can come in contact with. If you have nail warts, change all your nail cutters and other nail paraphernalia, too.  Go back to your doctor every few months to check if there are any new growths to make sure you have it treated before it multiplies.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I noticed some of my fingernails are extremely deformed. My mom says I must have cut it wrong at some point but no matter how much I try to make it straight, it grows weird and uneven.  What vitamins should I take to improve the health of my nails?

Abi

Dar Abi,

Finger nail deformities can be a number of things, ranging from infection to internal organ dysfunction.  If you are young, healthy, with no other rashes on the skin or scalp, and latest lab tests are all normal, you may just be suffering from onchymycosis. Onychomycosis is simply a fungal infection of the nails.

This can be seen as nails having yellowish discoloration or white streaks, deformed growth or even brittleness.  A simple lab test with potassium hydroxide staining can confirm this.

Only two methods of treatment are effective for nail fungus. The first involves painting medicated nail lacquer on your infected nails once a week for several months.  And the second would involve taking oral medication for a total of three weeks.  While nothing can be done for existing deformed nails, the new nail that grows will no longer be infected. Again, make sure to disinfect footwear and nail paraphernalia once nails are healed, to avoid re-infection.

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.