Skin Republic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have dark scars on my legs which makes me very conscious. I have not worn shorts or skirts for a long time now. What is the best way to get rid of them?

Barbie

Dear Barbie,

Scars that become dark are what we call “post inflammatory hyperpigmentation”. There are several ways to go about treating them. The simplest and least expensive way is to apply a bleaching cream (usually made up of hydroquinone, kojic acid, glycolic acid, tretinoin, arbutin, licorice, or vitamin C, etc). The trick is how to go about it safely to avoid redness or allergic reactions. How fast you want it to get better depends on three factors: concentration of the chemical, rate of your response and the type of bleaching cream chosen. The whitening products found over-the-counter are quite mild translating to a slower bleaching process. If you go to your (PDS-certified) dermatologist, she can prescribe or mix a cream that is right for you. Plus she will teach you how to safely apply it.

If you want a faster way of bleaching, doing chemical peels and lasers are procedures you can add on to your treatment program. It shouldn’t be painful nor give you adverse reactions if done by a trained dermatologist. Hope you can wear shorts soon in time for the summer season!

Dear Dr. Jen,

I had my eyebrows tattooed two years ago by a salon at the mall. The arch came out a few millimeters higher than my natural brow and the color is an awful light brown. The salon offered to take it off for free. I have had more than 10 sessions of their tattoo removal but the tattoo is still there. The salon offered to burn it with some acid but it sounded too scary. Please help me erase my ugly brow tattoo.

Christine

Dear Christine,

I sympathize with your plight. It must be frustrating to look at it everyday in the mirror! The black or brown pigment used on your brows can easily be lasered off.   It would usually take three to six sessions for it to be totally gone. There are only a few lasers that can remove tattoos. These are the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, the Q-switched Ruby or Alexandrite lasers. My guess is the salon did not use any of the lasers I mentioned above. There are some cheap laser imitations out there that can be harmful. Please do not have it burned off by a chemical nor have it excised because this will cause scarring. Ask your dermatologist what laser she is using and research accordingly. The laser machine and the operator are the key in having it done safely and effectively. Good luck!

Dr Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). She is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital.  For other information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/.

If you have any questions or concerns please text 0922 845 5556 or email [email protected].