Allergy

Dear Dr. Jen,

I think I may be allergic to some of my lotions or my perfume.  I'm not sure which ones make my skin itch.  How exactly do I find out?  Is there a way to find out which ones give me allergies?  I don't want to throw all my lotions and perfumes away.  Please advice me.

Meg

Dear Meg,

Skin allergies are a tricky thing.  Rather than do away with all the products that you own, you can easily do a patch test.  The patch test enables you to painlessly and easily identify which among the ingredients in the usual skin products irritate your skin.  A patch test uses stickers, with no needles and no poking. Interestingly, you can also test the products that you own.  Make sure to bring all your skin products to your PDS derma and the test will be performed.  The results can be read in two to three days.

Dear Dr. Jen,

My dad and grandfather both have psoriasis.  I'm developing some rashes on my chest and back.  It doesn't look the same as psoriasis but I am getting anxious.  I have been going over the different pictures on the internet and I'm pretty sure it isn't the same thing.  However, I want to avoid getting psoriasis.  What is a surefire way to prevent psoriasis from developing?  Is there a diet that I can follow?

Miko

Dear Miko,

Psoriasis can be irritating and unpredictable at times.  Raised, red plaques with white scales characterize this skin condition.  They usually show up on the scalp, elbows, knees, and the back.  In some cases, it can be hereditary, while in others it appears randomly, without any hint of family history.

Unfortunately, other than doing genetic mapping, there is no absolute way to predict the appearance of psoriasis in an individual.  Nor is there a diet that can prevent psoriasis from developing. The most that is known about diet is that alcohol consumption can trigger more lesions from emerging.

With psoriasis, it is important to have it treated while the lesions are still small. The smaller the rashes are, the easier they are to treat.  Mild medicated steroid-based and vitamin D-based creams can clear up psoriasis lesions fast.  However, the more rashes there are, the wider the distribution in the body, the more complicated the treatment regimen will be.

Take heart, there are many options for psoriasis patients nowadays.  From phototherapy, laser, oral medications, and creams, psoriasis is not as hopeless as people thought it was.  So enjoy your life now and do not live in fear of developing something that you may not even get.

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.