Derma exposes truth behind Korean glass skin

One of the slides in the presentation of Dr. Chesca Sy-Alvarado at a skincare talk at the recent launch of Avon’s new Anew Skin Renewal Power Cream in Makati City

MANILA, Philippines — Whenever dermatologist, doctor Chesca Sy-Alvarado, meets a patient, an acquaintance, a friend, or even a stranger at a party, she is always asked: Can you really achieve Korean glass skin with skincare alone?

“So whenever we think about Korean glass skin, the operational definition in our minds is actually exceptional skin quality,” Dr. Alvarado said at a talk at the recent launch of Avon’s new Anew Skin Renewal Power Cream in Makati City.

The doctor admitted that even scientists and dermatologists find it hard to achieve the flawless, poreless and shining skin promised by Korean glass skin. 

“We would have a difficult time in qualifying how this Korean Glass skin look like. Or how do you describe it?” she professed.

Hence, she said experts have agreed that there are four categories in which Korean glass skin qualifies: firmness, skin surface, evenness, and skin tone. In short, Korean glass skin is “actually a description of how healthy your epidermis and dermis are.”

According to her, although Korean glass skin refers to an outward appearance, it actually starts skin-deep.

“So in general, not just the top layer of the skin, but also the deeper part, actually, the deeper part gives a more significant contribution because in the dermis is also where our blood vessels are at the junction of the epidermis and dermis. That's where our pigment production is,” the doctor explained.

Since one has to work on the inside to achieve Korean glass skin outside, the doctor revealed that such skin “actually involves in-office treatment if you want to get really so close to it.”

Among the procedures dermatologists conduct to give a person a glass skin are collagen production enhancement, and treatments that address pigmentation to even out skin color and manage redness. 

After undergoing clinical procedures, a person with glass skin also has to follow a beauty regimen and apply topical treatments, because as the doctor said, “You also have to have something at home… you cannot do procedures to a man every day with a doctor for the rest of your life.”

The usual home care advice she gives, said the doctor, is to use a product or products that stimulate collagen production. 

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