Clear nail polish to the rescue — again!

May 6, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: First, I want to say that I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time. Then I want to tell you it makes me furious to have everyone assume that a person who has herpes has been promiscuous.

I, too, have herpes outbreaks at a spot on my buttocks, and there is no doubt in my mind where I got it — at the hospital. Having been monogamous for at least 12 years at the time, I had to have emergency surgery, and the herpes popped up within a week of discharge. The outbreak was exactly where I got all my pain shots. The location migrates just a bit every time it crops up, but it’s never been anywhere close to my genital area, thank heavens. A friend of mine also says she got herpes in the same hospital, years earlier. We’ve been friends for 30 years, and I just found that out last year. Her outbreaks are on her inner thigh, much closer to her knee than to her genitals.
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Polish for keratoses

April 26, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: A few weeks ago, you said putting nail hardener on skin tags helps to dry them and consequently they fall off. Would it be possible to do the same with seborrheic keratosis spots? I have many. Thank you for your consideration. I am an 80-year-old healthy female.

DEAR READER: Oddly enough, I just received a letter from a reader who indicated that she used it for that very purpose on an unsightly lesion. She applied it once daily, peeled it off after her daily shower, and then reapplied a new coat. The lesion was totally gone after several weeks. My guess is that the polish worked as a barrier, keeping the lesion dry and without vital oxygen for nourishment. She believed clear nail polish might have worked as well but did experience excellent results with the nail hardener.
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Home remedy for skin tags

February 22, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: A while back, I read an article about skin-tag removal. It mentioned something used on fingernails as a home remedy. Can you please tell me what this is?

DEAR READER: The product you are referring to is nail-hardening polish. For the removal of skin tags, it is applied to the lesion once or twice a day. As the coating builds up, it can be pulled off, removing the tag. The process may take up to a week.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

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Daily Column

August 26, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a raised growth on my left eyelid similar to a wart. Is there any way to remove it? I don’t want to go to the hospital or a doctor for this.

DEAR READER:
You may have a cyst, skin tag, wart or other harmless lesion. However, because it is on the delicate skin of your eyelid, it should be examined and, if necessary, removed by an ophthalmologist.

Because of the sensitivity of the skin and the risk of permanent damage to the eye, there is no safe way (to my knowledge) to remove the growth at home. If you attempt this you may cause temporary or permanent blindness, scratching or scarring of the cornea or retina leading to diminished vision or even loss of the eye. It is best to leave this up to the professionals.

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Daily Column

May 8, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I would like to know about these “things” that have started popping up all over my body. They are small and raised. They are very unattractive and I would like to know how to get rid of them. I’ve heard that they may be called “tags”.

DEAR READER:
Because you are unsure what the lesions are, I urge you to be examined by your physician. He or she should be able to diagnose you or may choose to refer you to a dermatologist (skin specialist). It is important to know what type of lesions you have, since treatment varies based on cause. It is also important to document any new skin growths (or changes of any current lesions in terms of size or color) to ensure they are not potentially harmful.

That being said, you most likely have skin tags, but I cannot be certain without visual inspection. Skin tags are common and harmless. They can be easily removed by a dermatologist or general surgeon, however can be costly and painful if you have several or particularly large tags.

There are some home remedies you can use as well. Using dental floss or thread, firmly tie it around the base of the tag. This cuts of the blood supply, killing the tissue. The tag should fall off in less than a week. Another option is to apply clear nail polish. Allow the polish to cover the tag for one day and then peel it away. Continue this until the entire tag is removed.

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