There’s a hard piece of skin on my small toe that hurts when it rubs my shoe. What is this? How do I fix it?
Calluses and corns are common occurences on feet, especially where you foot rubs against the lining of your shoe. These growths are very similar, both resulting from hyperkeratosis -- excess thickening of the outer layer of skin. Calluses are thickened layers of skin that form from friction, usually on the bottom of your feet. Corns are painful raised areas of skin that are formed in response to excess pressure on a bony surface. Corns typically form on the top of feet.
Usually nothing has to be done about either of these unless they are excessively irritating. They can be removed by shaving down the area in your physician's office, or you can try to soak them in warm water and gently rub with a pumice stone. However, if you have diabetes you should never tackle these areas on your own. Diabetic skin is much more prone to breaking down and can get easily infected. If you are a diabetic and have any kind of sore on your feet you should be seen by your physician as soon as possible.
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I know we’re supposed to wear sunscreen in the summer, but how do you keep it on your hands, particularly when you’re working with them. Is it OK to let that go?
Summer is a great time to go over some basic sunscreen pointers! Many of us in the midwest only wear sunscreen during the summer, when in reality we should be wearing it all year. Studies show that many types of skin cancers, including melanoma, can be greatly decreased by regular use of sunscreen. Regular use of sunscreen can also decrease premature skin aging caused by sun exposure.
When applying sunscreen, an average adult should use 1 oz of sunscreen to ensure sufficient coverage. That sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours while out in the sun. This means that a family of 4 could go through 16 oz in a day at the beach easily!
As far as keeping sunscreen on your hands, I understand it can be tough, especially if you are working outside. The best option you have is to wear gloves while working outside. If that isn't possible, try to buy a sweatproof sunscreen and reapply liberally, at least every hour to 90 minutes.
Do lumps on your head mean anything? Can they be removed? What causes them?
Lumps and bumps on your head can occur quite frequently; however, if a new lump or bump develops, you should check with your doctor to determine the underlying reason. Some bumps can be caused by infected hair follicles, or folliculitis. If this is the case, you should see your doctor to determine if you need an antibiotic. If a lump develops under the skin, it could be due to several conditions. Benign (not cancerous) fatty tumors called lipomas can develop all over the body. These are not as common on the scalp, but may appear on your neck. Epidermal cysts are another benign cause of strange lumps, and can generally be removed in your primary care physician's office, or by a surgeon if they are very large. As you can tell, many causes of growths on the scalp are benign, but if you are concerned you should talk with your primary care physician to determine exactly what is causing the growth.
