SkinRepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I keep getting an ingrown nail on my toe.  It is very swollen and painful.  What is the cause of ingrown nails? How can this be treated?

Jasmin

Dear Jasmin,

Ingrown nails are commonly experienced on the big toes. This is caused by improper trimming of the sides of the nails. Injury, ill-fitting shoes, foot or toe deformities and nail picking may also lead to ingrown nails.

The toe starts getting red, swollen and painful.  Sometimes, ingrown nails lead to infection due to a break in the skin.  There may be pus under the skin.  This will need to be treated with antibiotics.

If you have tried conservative home remedies and it hasn't worked, you may need to see your doctor.  Some surgeons will recommend nail surgery.  But with the advent of CO2 lasers, nail surgery may not be necessary in some cases.  A simple laser procedure can also ablate the offending nail border. Just ask your local PDS derma about it.

Avoid recurrence of ingrown nails by cutting nails straight across.  Don't trim the corners or sides of the toe nails. Wear comfortable, properly fitting shoes at all times. Avoid trauma and pressure to your toes. Best of luck!

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have liver spots on my arms.  How do they get treated?  I feel old when I look at my arms though I am only 47 years old.

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Liver spots, age spots or sun spots, are caused by chronic sun exposure.  These can be treated easily.  There are over the counter creams that contain tretinoin with hydroquinone that you can apply on them.  If you want more potent creams, you will need your PDS derma's prescription for it. For speedier results, you can combine procedures like chemical peels, lasers, and creams.

More importantly, since you obviously have a history of sun exposure, using sun protection daily on your arms is much needed.  It's never too late to start using sunblock!

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.