Fungus

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have been diagnosed to have athlete's foot for two years now.  There is peeling skin on my foot and sometimes it itches terribly.  Is there a permanent way to eliminate fungus on my foot? I am just so tired of applying creams day after day.

Joven

Dear Joven,

Athlete's foot, or tineapedis, can last for months to years - to a lifetime. There are three usual presentations. The more common one is dry or macerated skin on the spaces between the toes.  The second one is found on the heels, soles, or sides of feet.  The least common presentation is blistering type or ulcerating type.

Sometimes, athlete's foot can be misdiagnosed as eczema or lichenified (thickened) skin.  More often than not, it is also accompanied by a certain smell.  To make sure that it is truly a fungal infection, a simple and inexpensive laboratory examination can be performed.

If all creams have been exhausted, oral antifungals can also be used for a week or two.  Along with good hygiene and frequent change in socks, prevention of re-infection is possible.  Good luck!

Dear Dr. Jen,

I tried a Chinese medication called chin chunsu that made my face so clear and pinkish for a long while. Lately, I've noticed some darkening on my cheeks.  Could this be caused by the Chinese cream?  Can my skin still be saved?

Felicia

Dear Felicia,

The legendary chin chunsu has come a long way.  It has been popularly used since the 80s for lightening of the skin. And it is very affordable. You can even find it on amazon.com.  However, it has also been popular for causing many side effects.

The first of which is darkening of the skin.  Chin chunsu has been reported to contain the active ingredients sulfur and salicylic acid.  With these two, exfoliation of the skin is sure to follow.  In the long run, exfoliated skin equals very thin skin.  While this can temporarily give you a nice "glow,"   thinned-out skin can also be susceptible to allergies and easy burning.  Hence, the darkening of the skin eventually ensues.  Other side effects include itching, burning or stinging of the skin.

While it definitely works for some, those with very sensitive skin should stay clear of this product and stick to milder, hypoallergenic ones. The darkening can still be slowly reversed.  There are a myriad of options available to lighten damaged and darkened skin.  Creams, gentle peels, and lasers are some of the choices.  Make sure to be religious with sunscreen while undergoing medication.  This will prevent further damage to your skin.

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.