Dry skin
Dear Dr. Jen,
What do you recommend for very dry skin on my legs? I have changed lotions so many times. I even tried natural and organic products. But my legs are so scaly and rough.
Liz
Dear Liz,
Dry, scaly legs can be itchy and unsightly. There are remedies to dryness. But maybe the scales on your legs, which have accumulated over time prevents the moisture from getting absorbed. In that case, it is a priority to do a chemical peel to get rid of the piled up keratin.
Next, look for lotions and creams that contain humectants. Humectants help preserve moisture on the skin. Ingredients like propylene, hexylene, butylene glycol, glycerin and urea are great examples of chemicals that lock in moisture. These may be extra helpful in retaining hydration. Frequency in application, such as twice to four times daily is also a must. Bringing smaller versions of your lotion in your purse might be helpful for mid- day application. Once a day is totally not enough for lotion use, even for people with oily skin.
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Dear Dr. Jen,
I have flat warts on my hands. They have been cauterized several times but more still appear. I find cautery to be very painful. What other procedures do you advise for wart removal? The solutions don’t seem to work and just burn my skin.
Dennis
Dear Dennis,
Caustic solutions containing salicylic acid or casein extract can be very irritating, not just to the wart itself but also to the surrounding skin. Patients often complain that it also irritates the skin around the wart and causes brown discoloration. There are other alternatives to flat wart, aside from cautery. Laser may prove to be faster than cautery. A favorite of children and elderly patients who happen to have lower pain threshold is the use of liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen works by freezing off the warts. Both are quite effective in removing warts, with no need for injectable anesthesia. You can opt to use cream-based anesthesia prior to the procedure if you are sensitive or anxious about any discomfort.
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