Eyes

Dear Dr. Jen,

There’s a wound on the side of my nose that has been around for the last year or so.  It is where my eyeglasses rest all the time.  It has never fully healed so I’m a bit worried.  Will antibiotic ointment help?  And what else can I do to hasten healing?  I have very dry eyes and cannot wear contact lens.

Liza

Dear Liza,

Wounds that heal slowly or don’t heal at all is a cause for concern.  Maybe the eyeglasses do hit that part of your skin and may lead to re-injury.  In such cases, bacteria can enter the break of the skin and lead to infection.  You can tell if there is an ongoing infection because of the redness, swelling and expanding wound.  Pus may also be present.

If this “wound” has been going on for several months without any pain (since you haven’t been propelled to see a doctor yet), I’m assuming there is likely no infection.

The other likely possibilities are skin cancer or some cyst growing underneath.  At this point, you might consider getting a PDS dermatologist to check it out.  A simple biopsy can be performed to rule out any malignant growth. Surgery can be performed if needed for it to be taken out.

Dear Dr. Jen,

How do I treat the calluses on my toes?  They are very unsightly when I wear sandals.  Foot scrubs don’t seem to help.

Jonna

Dear Jonna,

Calluses on the toes can only mean one thing: your shoes are too tight.  Take a look at all the closed footwear that you constantly wear – your gym shoes or work shoes.  It is possible that the culprit shoes can be pinching your feet in the wrong angle.  While the shoe length might be correct, consider the width of the shoe.  It might be too narrow for your feet. Also, take a look at the shape of your shoe if it fits the shape of your toes.  Some shoes can be tapered to the end and may cause scrunching up of your toes.  This usually produces calluses on the joints of your toes.

The best remedy for calluses is to change your footwear.  Don’t go back to wearing the culprit shoes, ever again.  This will ease up pressure on your calluses and eventually cause them to fade. Callus pads can also help.  The more pressure or scrubbing or injury done to your feet, the thicker the calluses get.  So go shop for another pair soon and re-think your shoe choices.

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.