Skin Republic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I am a 21 year old fresh graduate and I have a problem with my smelly feet.  It started during ROTC days.  I've tried everything that my friends have suggested, from using foot powder, tawas, using fresh socks, to no avail.  What can be wrong with my feet?  What can I do about it?

Bobby

Dear Bobby,

The familiar smell of very stinky feet can point to one thing usually, a fungal infection.  This is known as tineapedis or athlete's foot because athletes commonly had it.  It is seen as peeling skin or itchy, red skin in the areas between the toes, or on the soles of the feet.  It can spread to the nails or the fingers. You can get the infection from walking barefoot in the gym, pool or other public places.

The fungus likes a moist environment.  Walking around in hot boots during ROTC would have encouraged its growth and reproduction.  Fungus can be easily killed via anti-fungal creams (ketoconazole, terbinafine, etc) but it requires patience since twice-daily application for several weeks is needed.  If you are in a hurry and your liver is in good health, oral antifungals can be another thing you can take.  This will only be for a week or two.

Lastly, make sure all your socks are disinfected by soaking them in hot water.  Disinfecting footwear (with Lysol, white vinegar or formaldehyde) is also necessary.  This will inhibit re-infection and ensure a final termination to your stinky feet problem.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have something on the sides of my nose that seems to be growing bigger.  My glasses hit the area all the time. At first it looked like blackheads but it has grown over a period of time.  Should I be worried of skin cancer or a mole gone bad?  Is there a way to take it out?

Lourdes

Dear Lourdes,

Pressure and occlusion from prolonged wearing of glasses can indeed cause a host of different skin problems.  Blackheads that form into giant comedones (more blackheads) can actually happen.  Since you have it on both sides of the nose, this is a likelihood.   Removal simply involves a laser procedure or a direct extraction of the blackhead.

 Allergies from the material of the glasses can also cause eventual hardening of the skin under the glasses.  If this develops, you might need to change your glasses to a different form or a lighter material. Injecting the lichenified skin can soften and flatten the protuberant areas.

Although moles are unlikely to form on exact mirror images of each other (on each side of your nose), it wouldn't hurt to have it checked.  Your PDS derma can inform you if it indeed something to be worried about wherein a biopsy may be in order.  Good luck!

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.