SkinRepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I see white spots on my daughter's cheeks, like her color is uneven. I tried applying Nizoral but it is still present.  Please help me.

Tess

Dear Tess,

Pityriasisalba is easily mistaken for a fungal infection because of its white color.  However, it is not fungal in origin but usually arises from people with eczematous skin.

In some cases, a mild steroid cream suffices. But most people get better with just the use of a hypoallergenic moisturizer, on a maintenance basis. It would be good to have it checked by your PDS dermatologist nonetheless just to rule out more serious skin conditions.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have scars from my previous acne.  I've been having dermabrasion sessions but it has not really improved by much.  What are my options?

Ana Liza

Dear Ana Liza,

Microdermabrasions or diamond peels, unless they result in pinpoint bleeding, will hardly improve your scars.  If you want immediate results, fillers are the way to go.  Fillers can last from six months to 18 months.

If you are looking for a more permanent alternative, I highly recommend doing fractional laser.  Fractional laser takes about 10 minutes.  Sunbathing is prohibited for a few days after the procedure. You have to do about four to six sessions to get desired results.

You can discuss more of this with your PDS dermatologist and bring a list of questions that you have for each procedure. Best of luck!

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.