Dr Stephanie Ho

Hi, Darkening of pigmentation after laser on the face can sometimes occur, especially in Asians or darker skin individuals. While this can happen with all types of lasers, certain lasers with a shorter pulse width, such as the nanosecond Q switched lasers as well as picosecond lasers will carry a higher risk. In Asians, a longer pulse width laser such as that used in the Alextrivantage laser or Cutera Excel V laser will carry a lower risk of post laser pigmentation. If you do already have darkening, medical grade lightening creams can help fade it faster.

Hi, post-inflammatory erythema is a common consequence after recent: Acne Rashes Burns Minor surgical procedures It is due to an increase in blood vessels and inflammation around the previous area of injury or disease. Treatment can be by the following strategies: Monitor, put on sun protection, and wait for the redness to resolve over time. This will usually take 2-6 months on the face. Topical silicone gels or vitamin C serums can give mild improvement. Vascular lasers such as VBEAM laser is an excellent treatment for post-inflammatory erythema.

It is difficult to ascertain what the persistent blood clot on the lip may be due to without a photo. However, conditions such as: Angiomas Haemangioma Port wine stains Can all contribute to a red area that is persistent and have little symptoms. In more serious cases, even skin cancers can present as a pink or red spot that is persistent and grows over time. It is best to seek medical advice early if you have a new, persistent, or changing skin lesion. Hope this helps.

Hi, redness on the skin can be due to a variety of causes, including: Rashes such as acne, eczema, allergies, psoriasis, rosacea Skin growths such as angiomas, vascular birthmarks Post-inflammatory erythema due to previous inflammation from acne or eczema Given that there are broad-ranging possibilities, it is best to seek medical attention from either your local doctor or dermatologist to assess your skin condition further so that appropriate management strategies can be advised. Hope this helps.

Hi from your photo, you appear to be suffering from active and moderately severe acne. This leaves acne marks when the acne is healed, causing uneven skin tone. First, you should consider getting your acne under control and this can be via different treatment strategies such as: 1. Oral antibiotics 2. Oral contraceptive pills 3. Oral isotretinoin Once the active acne is under control, you will have no new acne spots and the marks will gradually fade over time. On the face, this normally takes a few months. However, if you are still developing new acne, new marks will continue to form.

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that if left untreated, can potentially spread to other organs in the body and cause serious complications. The common signs to look out for would be a changing pigmented lesion or mole.

Hi if you have a mole that is raised, it often means the mole originates from the deeper layer of skin. If your mole is still present after multiple laser sessions, it is likely because the laser is only treating the top part of the mole and the mole will persist or even increase in size over time. A surgical removal of such moles will usually be more effective. Although there will be an initial scar, this will usually fade to a fine line after 6-8 months and leave an excellent cosmetic result for most patients.

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection due to a pox virus that is commonly seen in young children. It presents as multiple small pink spots with a white depressed centre. They can appear as clusters and is often seen in children with eczema, especially over the inflamed skin areas. It is also sometimes seen in adults, where it can be transmitted due to skin to skin contact with the infected areas. Treatment options include: 1. Watchful waiting - molluscum papules can resolve spontaneously as the immune system matures.

All lumps should be assessed by a doctor or Dermatologist to determine if it is harmless or requires further investigations. In general, any changing lump will require a more urgent assessment. Look out for the following signs: Lump changing in shape, size, colour Lump becoming larger and firm in areas Lump becoming red, hot, painful Lump bleeding or have non-healing wounds overlying it A Dermatologist will be best placed to assess any skin lumps as we are trained to look for and manage skin lesions and will be able to reassure you if a lump is harmless or requires intervention.

The latest studies have shown that laser treatment of acne scars can be performed safely whilst patients are undergoing treatment with Accutane. From your photos, there are 2 issues that can be addressed: 1. Keloid scars along the jawline can be treated with a combination of VBEAM laser and steroid injections. Usually, 3-5 monthly treatments are required and you will likely see excellent results. 2. The atrophic scars on your cheeks can be treated by fractional CO2 laser to resurface the skin and improve collagen remodelling.

It is not very obvious from the photo what the red spot may be. Possible causes of a red spot could be: Acne papule or nodule Inflamed cyst Insect bite reaction Bacterial infection etc Signs to look out for would be a spot that is worsening or changing. If the spot is getting larger, more painful or swollen, associated with fever or other lumps, those are generally worrying signs that should fast track you to seek urgent medical attention. Do see a doctor or Dermatologist for an early opinion to avoid worsening of your symptoms. Hope this helps.

If you have an inflamed cyst, it is advisable to see your doctor after 1 week of antibiotics to assess the condition again. There are no hard and fast rules, options of treatment can include: 1. Immediate incision and drainage of the inflamed cyst at presentation 2. Treat with antibiotics before excising the cyst 1-2 weeks later 3. Treat with antibiotics before continuing to monitor cyst, only choosing to excise if it worsens again.

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia, a type of bacteria. Individuals may develop Lyme disease after a tick bite, and often have a history of having visited forested or wooded areas where deers can be a host to the ticks. Lyme disease can affect any part of the body, most commonly the skin, central nervous system, joints, heart, and rarely the eyes and liver. In the skin, an expanding pink patch in the shape of a bull's eye is often seen in the first 1-2 weeks after the infected tick bite.

Seeking early and effective treatment of any skin rashes is the best way of avoiding any permanent scars. For mild truncal folliculitis, topical treatments are usually sufficient. In more severe cases, oral antibiotics may be required. In Asian skin, rashes will often leave a pink-brown mark after it heals as the pigment cells in the deeper skin layers have been disturbed and release melanin during the healing process. Such marks are known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and will usually resolve over time.