Wart

Dear Dr. Jen,

I started putting this medicated band-aid on my wart for a few days. Yesterday, the wart just suddenly came off.  How do I know if there is still wart left behind?

Justin

Dear Justin,

Home wart removal band-aids or applicators usually contain some form of exfoliator like salicylic acid.  For superficial warts, this is ideal and the top part of the epidermis gets peeled off.  There is a reddish raw spot left where the wart used to be. For deeper warts, you might have to use it several times.

The only way to assess if there are any wart cells remaining is to do a biopsy and look under a microscope.  For recurrent warts, it probably goes deeper into the epidermis.  You might need to have it cauterized or lasered off.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have so many beauty products on my bathroom counter.  I would like to start purging but I don’t know which facial cleansers work best as makeup remover.  I also have a lot of toners, moisturizers, face masks and I don’t know which ones to keep. What is the correct order of using all these products?

Keri

Dear Keri,

There is no one true answer as to the best makeup remover or cleanser.  It all really depends on your skin type.  If you are on the dry side, oil-based cleansers or makeup removers can be very good for your skin.  Some cleansers are formulated as oil emulsions such that when you apply it on your skin the makeup and dirt stick to the oil.  As soon as you wash it with water, an emulsion forms and the oil washes off.

For oily-skinned people, some cleansers that are foam-based may work best.  This usually comes in a pump and requires your skin to be initially moistened. There are also mixed-type complexion individuals that respond best to a non-soap-based liquid cleanser.  This is the most common cleanser being advocated (like physiogel or cetaphil etc).  It is best used on dry skin and later lathered with water.

Toner and anti-ageing products are applied at night, after cleaning the face.  This is because some ingredients in anti-wrinkle products are inactivated by sunlight.  Moisturizer is usually the last to be applied.  Moisturizing products best come in a hypoallergenic form, and may contain some extra component for anti-ageing.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with the Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). Information on PDS is at www.pds.org.ph. Questions or concerns regarding the skin may be sent by text to 0932 857 7070 or emailed to [email protected]; or coursed thru The Freeman – (032) 2531276, or thru PSH – (032) 2338620 and 2325929. Inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.