Dr Joanna Chan

Hi there, I would recommend skinboosters for the lips with the product Volite (from the Juvederm range from Allergan) for patients with dry, dehydrated, flaking/cracking lips either naturally or acquired e. g. from working in long hours of dry air/cold environment, but yet do not want to alter their natural lip shape. Volite is a hyaluronic acid skinbooster that lasts up to 9 months with a single course of treatment. Hyaluronic acid is a water-binding molecule found naturally in our skin.

Hi there! Thank you for your question. I think it is safe to say that you may allow your doctor to help you weigh the risks of antibiotic resistance when using topical antibiotics for acne treatment. I personally do not recommend the use of topical antibiotics on their own for the treatment of mild-moderate papular/pustular acne - I combine topical antibiotics with topical benzoyl peroxide to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. This is in line with major clinical guidelines on the treatment of acne (1).

Hello there! Thank you for your question and interest in this topic. Syringomas may be removed in a variety of methods but in general I believe you are referring to minimally-invasive skin procedures using equipment or machines such as lasers/minor surgical procedures. You may be pleased to know that you may go ahead for syringoma removal even while on low dose accutane (isotretinoin).

Hi there, That's an interesting question. I do not think there is strong evidence to recommend a particular diet or dietary guideline after laser resurfacing for acne scars, whether to speed up the healing process or prevent side effects. To me, taking proper care of the skin after laser resurfacing is more important! Do remember to apply a minimum of 1) whatever medication cream your doctor has prescribed, 2) sunblock and 3) moisturizer until the skin completely heals over. In the meantime, I advise patients to enjoy their food and take everything in moderation! Best regards, Dr.

Hi there, Acne in newborns, or neonatal/infantile acne, as it is commonly called, is not considered to be rare. The acne morphology in this condition may include comedones (whiteheads and blackheads), inflamed papules and pustules, nodules, and cysts. The cause of infantile acne is largely unknown. It is thought to be genetic in origin. It is not usually due to excessive testosterone or other androgenic hormones and children with infantile acne are usually otherwise quite normal in appearance.

Hi there, There is good evidence for long-term hair removal/reduction using laser of suitable wavelengths, such as the long-pulse 1064nm NDYag laser, which is commonly used in clinics in Singapore. Evidence has been found for long-term hair removal efficacy beyond 6 months after repetitive treatments with suitable lasers, whereas the current long-term evidence is sparse for IPL devices. The ideal patient to achieve best results for long-term hair removal would be someone with thick and dark terminal hair, fair skin, and a normal hormonal status.

Hi there! The short answer is, NO, I strongly do not advise you to undergo laser skin resurfacing after being exposed to sunlight for the past few days. In fact, depending on factors such as duration and intensity of recent sunlight/UV exposure, skin type and skin condition, I may advise patients to delay laser skin resurfacing for up to 1-2 months after strong sunlight exposure. This is due to the higher risk of irregular pigmentation forming in the treated areas (also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation). ], skin burns and scarring.

Hi there, Erythema (redness) and swelling are possible and early warning signs of a skin infection, given your recent ear piercing. Other signs and symptoms of a skin or soft tissue infection may include warmth, pain, especially pain on pressure/touching and presence of any discharge from the piercing site. I highly suggest that you see your general practitioner to review this piercing for possible infection and to ensure other important structures in this area e. g. ear cartilage tissue is not damaged. Best regards, Dr.

Hi there! It is good that you have read about Rejuran and Ellanse. However, my short answer is that neither were created for the purpose of improving dark eye circles, and saggy skin/wrinkles under the eyes. I agree with Dr. Pang's opinion on use of energy-based devices such as monopolar radiofrequency (RF) and high-intensity ultrasound (HIFU) for skin tightening and collagen stimulation as a first-line for mild-moderate cases of saggy skin and wrinkles.

Hi there, The answer is yes, there are alternatives to Accutane for oily skin. Systemic isotretinoin (Accutane, Oratane) is very effective for reducing seborrhoea (oily skin). Research has shows that 1 year after the completion of isotretinoin therapy, sebum excretion rates have been found to remain significantly suppressed for most individuals. However, for various reasons such as potential side effects of systemic isotretinoin, some people may be unsuitable to take this medication. Your alternative medications are: 1. Topical retinoids 2. Spironolactone (for women only) 3.

Hi there! Thank you for your question regarding treatment options for tattoo removal. I recommend using a pico-second laser to target tattoo ink/pigments. Picosecond lasers are more effective and safer than nanosecond (Q-switched) lasers (1). However, do note that the type of laser used is only one of the factors affecting your personal clinical response to tattoo removal treatments.

The short answer is that there is insufficient evidence at the moment either to promote or to discourage the use of facial cleansing devices as their evidence in improving acne is mixed. Proponents of facial cleansing devices theorize that the use of ultrasonic skincare brushes which oscillate at sonic speed results in loosening of comedones (whiteheads and blackheads) from the pores (1). Since clogged pores are one of the main features of acne and acne-prone skin, these devices are such able to help with acne.

Hi, Thank you for your question. It is a broad one, and perhaps we could discuss a tailored treatment plan for you based on your history and doing a physical examination, or a picture of your nails. Your doctor may do some tests such as examination of a specimen of your nail under microscopy to confirm the diagnosis as some conditions may be confused with or mimic onychomycosis. A patient can also have onychomycosis in addition to other nail disorders.

The pigment used in eyebrow embroidery usually fades with time, but I understand that yours did not. In this case, you could try using a laser to remove the pigments. In my practice, I use a Pico-second laser to remove such pigments. Pico-second lasers are the newest lasers promising fast and efficacious tattoo removal. A study compared the use of nanosecond and picosecond lasers for the treatment of black tattoos in human patients, all other parameters being equal, and reported tattoo removal to be more effective with the picosecond pulse duration.