Skin Republic

Dear Dr. Jen,

                Both my parents have pimple scars on their faces. I am 16 years old and already starting to get pimples. How do I make sure they don't scar?

                                                           Nathan

Dear Nathan,

                Pimples can be hereditary, but acne scars are not. To avoid having your pimples become pitted scars, the first thing you have to do is to stop picking on your pimples. Popping and pushing the pimples can create a bigger hole underneath them, leading to craters once the pimple has healed.

                Stop using harsh, stinging toners and creams. Be gentle on your skin. Aggravating pimples by irritating them can make them more inflammatory, thereby leading to bigger acne, hence, bigger scars. This goes for using harsh sulfur or herbal soaps too.

                Have your pimples treated now. If you eliminate pimples, then you eliminate the possibility of scars altogether. Work with your PDS dermatologist, be patient with the results. There is no overnight cure to acne.  Best of luck!

Dear Dr. Jen,

                I noticed that I am starting to lose a lot of hair lately.  I've been going on a diet for a month now.  Could my diet be related to hair loss?  And if so, what can I do to make my hair grow back?

                                                        Nani

Dear Nani,

                Hair health is very much related to nutrition, given that you don't have any endocrine abnormalities.  At the heart of a healthy head of hair is a balanced diet. Radical diets can make you lose your hair.

                A strand of hair is made up of proteins. A simple elimination of proteins from your meals, may lead to possible hair loss. Protein-rich products are found in meat (pork and beef), chicken, and fish. Iron also contributes to healthy hair. The best sources of iron are meat. Non-animal sources of iron (soybeans, pumpkin seeds, white beans, spinach) may not be as effectively absorbed in humans, hence may explain iron-deficiency in some.

                There are other nutrients and minerals that can be missing in your diet such as zinc, vitamin B, silica and Vitamin E. Consulting a nutritionist about your diet will be helpful.  Taking multivitamins and consuming a healthy balanced diet will restore your hair loss.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). For information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/. For questions or concerns, please text to: 0932 857 7070; or email to: [email protected]; or call The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.