SkinRepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I've been nursing a callus on my left foot for several years now.  Well, I'm not really so sure if it's a callus or a wart.  How can I tell the difference?  And what over-the-counter medicines will work?

Janice

Dear Janice,

Calluses or corns results from constant pressure or friction by your shoe wear or how you walk.  The skin gets thickened and often develops a bump.  To differentiate this from warts, check for lines that are skin grooves or ridges (like finger prints).  These run across the thickened skin.  Warts in general do not have these ridges.  If you are unsure, you can always have your reliable PDS derma check it.

If you stop wearing tight foot wear or correct how you apply feet pressure when walking, your callus will simply disappear over time. Reversibly, no matter what medicine you apply or what procedure you do to take it out, as long as you continue applying pressure or friction over the area, it will keep on coming back.

Plantar warts have very poor success rate with the use of salicylic acid (which is present in over-the-counter meds). This is due to the very thick skin on the soles of our feet.  You can opt to have it removed via cautery, laser or surgery.

Dear Dr. Jen,

My dad has vitiligo.  I read somewhere that it is an inheritable disease.  What can I do to prevent getting it?

Masi

Dear Masi,

Vitiligo is a skin condition wherein some cells stop producing melanin.  The patient often has white patches in areas of his skin.  Vitiligo is not infectious, however it can be transmitted genetically.  The exact type of inheritance is not yet certain but 1 out of 5 family members can get it.

Some people swear with diets that avoid sour foods (rich in vitamin C) or go vegetarian, but these have not been scientifically proven. Herbal supplements (like gingko biloba) also have very limited evidence.

I understand your anxiety about getting vitiligo, but there really is no way so far to prevent it.  You can try seeing a geneticist for extensive genetic counseling just to see if you do carry the genes for it.  The next best thing to do is to seek early treatment to get it under control as soon as possible.

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.