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Monday, October 4, 2010 – Daily News – 5B FEATURES More relief for split fingertips Sober sophomore surrenders supporters If readers would like to con- tact Dr. Gott, they may write him directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. How- ever, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address. DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had split fingertip problems for 10 years or more but have been able to control it for at least the past five years. Dr. Peter Gott As a practicing veterinarian, I deal with these splits much like I do soft-tis- sue damage in my patients. Specifically, I treat chronic soft-tissue problems much as I would treat a bone fracture. The prime consideration in proper bone healing is to limit severely any motion of the fracture ends until the bone is well healed. I apply this principle to the split fin- gertips by taping the sides of the split together and staying with it until well after the splits are healed. Invariably, after the wound areas heal, a callus forms on each side of the old split that prevents a final heal. You can deal with this by carefully trimming the firm callus and reapplying tape across the area. The trimming and tap- ing are continued until the normal soft skin reappears. Depending on the per- sistence of the patient with immobiliza- tion of the wound edges, this process will take 10 to 20 days — or perhaps never if they are not diligent about con- trolling all skin movement. As for the tape, I find that the very sticky tape on each end of a Band-Aid works nicely. Just trim the bandage part away. An easier item to use is 3M Transpore tape. I am sure your patient’s fingers will heal if the patients are self-disciplined. The most difficult part is to find medical personnel, etc., to do the callus trim- ming and so forth. The cause, at least for me, was vigor- ous flossing every evening. It finally dawned on me that the splits happened where I held the floss to guide it over the tip of my fingers. Since I changed to fluffy, soft floss and was careful to change the pressure points, the splits have been much reduced. DEAR DOCTOR: Your approach is thorough and undoubtedly effective; however, I don’t believe that many people will want to wait two or more weeks to heal a single split. This has been a popular topic, and I have received many responses. Some of the most recommended remedies are medicated chest rubs, cas- tor oil, liquid vitamin E, vita- min D supplements, biotin, Liquid Bandage, Superglue, plain adhesive tape, vitamin/vinegar washes and paper tape. Many readers have found that using rubber gloves is a contributing factor to developing cracked fingertips and that ceasing use improves the skin. All of these other options claim to improve skin and heal splits in three to seven days. Just as there are countless reasons for developing dry, cracked or split fingers, there are as many ways to help. My gen- eral recommendations are to keep the hands clean and well moisturized. Do not expose them to excessively hot water or harsh chemicals. Prevention is the best medicine for even simple mal- adies. To provide related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies” and “More Compelling Home Remedies.” Other readers who would like copies should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to men- tion the title(s) or print an order form off my website at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. DEAR DR. GOTT: I want to order a Health Report but don’t know what a No. 10 envelope is. DEAR READER: A No. 10 envelope is the most common size. It is about 9- 1/2 inches wide by 4-1/4 inches high. Read the envelope box, and it will pro- vide the information. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr.Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com Dear Annie: I am 19 years old and a sopho- more in college. I have a large circle of friends who are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Or so I thought. I have never been one to drink or party, not because I looked down on it, but simply because it wasn’t my scene. When I entered college, I made new friends who enjoyed going out and drinking every weekend. I thought I might be missing some- thing, so I went along. After a semester of this, I realized that the partying could be fun, but I didn’t much like the way I felt after a weekend of drink- ing. I preferred socializ- ing sober. About the same time, I also decided to improve my health with meticu- lously planned workouts and a strict diet that left no room for empty alco- hol calories. I loved my new healthier lifestyle, but my friends did not. They began badgering me every weekend to drink with them and gave me a hard time if I refused to eat deep-dish pizza and onion rings. After a month or two, they began excluding me from their plans altogeth- er. I was hurt. I never condemned them for their choices and would never preach to them. I don’t understand why I should be left out because I make different food and drink choices. I don’t want to ditch my friends entirely. It would be next to impossi- ble to find a group of col- lege students who don’t behave the same way, and I don’t want to live in iso- lation. How can I stick to my healthy lifestyle with- out my friends intentionally excluding me from their social lives? — Penn- sylvania Student Dear Pennsyl- vania: This is not an uncommon problem. There is tremendous peer pressure to drink in college, and most people are aware of the ‘‘freshman 15’’ pounds that many students pack on due to the junk food and irregular eating habits. We commend you for choosing a healthier path. But even without preaching, your friends may be uncomfortable around you. You are a walking reminder of their riskier choices. Explain to them how hurt you are by the exclusion. But also look for new friends, per- haps in the gym or cafete- ria or through university organizations. Dear Annie: I know a father who sexually abused his daughter for five years. I only recently discovered this when she finally went into therapy and told me what hap- pened. He spent a month in jail and has a criminal record for public inde- cency. Even though this was 30 years ago, her family remains angry and shocked. The father is now 60 years old and remarried and lives with his new wife in a town a half-hour away. His new wife has grandchildren, but has no idea that he is a sex offender. I don’t know what to do. Do I let his new wife know about him? — Dilemma Dear Dilemma: It would be best if your Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar female friend were the one to inform her father’s new wife that he could be a danger to the grandchildren. And yes, the wife should know. The man’s age and the fact that it hap- pened 30 years ago does not mean he is ‘‘cured.’’ Dear Annie: I question your advice to ‘‘Upset in Ohio,’’ whose husband’s brother left his wife for another woman. She wondered whether they should attend the brother-in-law’s wed- ding. You told her to go, but not to stay too long. I think it’s far better to risk alienating him than his ex-wife and daughter. ‘‘Upset’’ should tell her brother-in-law that they have plans that day and then take the ex-wife and daughter to dinner and a movie. — M.C. Dear M.C.: We under- stand the desire to force- fully show disapproval, but we don’t think it is wise to alienate a brother- in-law when ‘‘Upset’’ and her husband say they wish to maintain a rela- tionship with him. Stay- ing for the ceremony but not the reception will send the same message without being as offen- sive. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.n et, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. 17 stuck on Wisconsin Ferris wheel rescued safely RACINE, Wis. (AP) — Emergency crews in Wisconsin used a ladder truck to rescue 17 people trapped on a Ferris wheel. The ride was one of the attrac- tions at Party on the Pavement in Racine, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee. Officials say emergency crews were called about 1 p.m. Satur- day after it appeared the ride fell out of alignment and got stuck. 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