Lice and shine!

Hello There Rissa!

I really admire the way you give advice about beauty and lifestyle, and for me you are the ultimate "kikay machine." That’s why I want to seek your advice. Actually, the problem is not exactly about me but about my friend.

Well, the problem goes like this: I have this close friend who’s really pretty. She’s smart and very nice. But the big and sad "but" is that she has lice. I happened to see it because one day, she asked me to help her braid her hair. I thought it was just dandruff but it wasn’t. They were quite plenty in number, too. Being the true friend that I am, I told her about it. We asked help from her mom and she told me about this shampoo to kill these lice. Fortunately, it did kill those parasites. But the problem is it just killed them but it’s been seven months and they’re still there, hanging on the strands of her hair. I pity my friend — because of this, she’s starting to lose self-confidence. She barely goes out with us anymore and has become uptight. Since then, she hasn’t visited the parlor. I’m her only friend who knows about it that’s why I’m really sad for her. What can we do to get rid of those dead lice permanently? Do you have any suggestions? Do you know any salons which specialize in this kind of hair problem? Is there any shampoo brand that you know is affordable and yet effective in this kind of problem? We badly need your help. More power to you! — Friend To The Rescue

Dear Friend To The Rescue,

Here’s Dr. Clare Palabyab’s recipe to solve your friend’s problem: Kwell shampoo. You can find this at leading drugstores. Keep this on the scalp for about five to 10 minutes. This will kill any lice that is alive, but it won’t kill the eggs yet. You may still see the eggs there on the scalp which look like tiny white dots. These are what you probably mistook as dandruff. Since the eggs are still there, your friend’s scalp can get reinfested again. Dr. Palabyab recommends shampooing with Kwell twice a week until you don’t see the eggs anymore. Continue even after the symptoms disappear.

She also cautions that lice are contagious. Avoid sharing your comb or towel with anyone else. Your friend should also check with her family. She may have gotten her condition from sharing a brush or towel with a family member. Here’s a scarier source of lice: the parlor. But since most parlors today practice good hygiene by having towels laundered and brushes disinfected, there’s a slim chance of getting lice from your favorite salon. But it won’t hurt to be careful.

You can visit Dr. Clare Palabyab at Room 414 of the Medico Building in Medical City. Her clinic hours are 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. every day except Sunday and Wednesday afternoon. You can also call her at 631-6961 for an appointment.

Giving Your Skin A Brand-New Glow

Dear Rissa,

Hi there! I see you in various fashion shows but haven’t had the honor of meeting you.

Anyway, I just have a few questions about skin care. You see, I have oily skin and in order to control the excess oil, I have been using L’Oreal’s Matte Facial and Matte Toner. The problem is, I have tons of visible tiny dots — also known as blackheads — on my nose. I used to use Pond’s nose strip but it never really absorbed the blackheads. Not to mention that Pond’s nose strip is no longer available on the market. Right now, I’m using this imported apricot scrub (the name escapes me right now, but I really love its sweet apricot smell) from Beauty Bar every other day but lo and behold, my blackheads are definitely here to stay! Ugh! How disgusting! Could you recommend any treatment to annihilate them?

I have colleagues who have noticeably clear and acne-free skin. I asked them what their secret was and according to them, they patronize the "Let’s Face It" facial salons and go there weekly. I have nothing against "Let’s Face It" per se, but you see, a newscaster male friend of mine had a facial in a prestigious salon here in Quezon City and my goodness, his skin became awful! All of a sudden, huge pimples appeared all over his face and he had to go to a dermatologist to solve the problem. And since I heard his story, I’ve been oh-so-damn frightened of facials. But they say a facial (plus facial peel) is necessary if I want to have that "glow" on my face. Is this true? How about glutathione? Is it true that taking it would make your skin look like the perfect skin of celebrities?

Could you recommend affordable facial salons or dermatologists who could do wonders for my skin? I was hoping to have a brand-new glow as soon as the New Year steps in.

Thanks so much, Rissa!

More power to you and your siblings!

God bless, — Teej

Dear Teej,

Dr. Clare Palabyab, top dermatologist at the Medical City, explains that glutathione is an amino acid, the building blocks of protein. Originally, it was used in Japan to treat hepatitis since the liver can no longer metabolize protein. It was like a food supplement. It was considered safe with no side effects. But they began to notice that people who took glutathione became fairer. So they tried to find the biochemical reason for this whitening effect. Research shows that glutathione prevents the formation of melanin. When taken with vitamin C, an antioxidant, it can help lighten the skin.

Dr. Palabyab advises that you should see a doctor before taking it. When glutathione is bought over the counter, it generally contains a low dose which isn’t strong enough to give a whitening effect. It won’t automatically make your skin glow, but rather something applied to the skin will give you faster results. She reminds though that taking glutathione won’t permanently lighten your skin color. When you stop taking it, your skin will darken again.

When it comes to facials, Dr. Clare Palabyab categorizes it into two. Medical facials are the kind done by your dermatologist. Acne is pricked to remove the pus, whiteheads and blackheads. Cosmetological facials are those done in the beauty parlor, salon, or spa. They generally do the same pricking to remove pus, whiteheads and blackheads, but they also apply certain creams right after the facial. Dr. Palabyab reasons that your friend might have been allergic or sensitive to these products.

Just a month ago, I tried a reputable facial salon. They had the best and the most comfortable facilities I have ever seen and experienced. They could easily challenge some of the best spas I’ve tried abroad. I was very impressed that there was a qualified skin expert who knowledgeably assessed my skin condition and even personalized my free facial to my current skin condition.

I enjoyed my facial immensely. There was no harsh pricking. The technician assigned to me had very gentle hands. But at the end of the procedure, she started applying the imported skincare products which they boast to exclusively have. I didn’t care how expensive they were, but the products began to sting like hell! The very next day, my skin was at its worst condition ever. It was super dry, super flaky and super red! I felt so bad because I had to go through a fashion show with that kind of skin. Good thing it wasn’t a beauty shoot or else, I probably would’ve been replaced on the spot! I really regretted that facial.

Although I’m a sucker for trying a lot of new beauty products, makeup and all things kikay, that was the last time I would ever gamble with my skin. You see, I’d never ever gone to a dermatologist before. I only visited one right after college. And my skin had never been better — until one facial at some fancy spa ruined it. I’m lucky that my skin has recovered already. So the next time I get an offer to try a new spa, I’ll probably go for a massage instead!

Because of the pricking, Dr. Clare Palabyab explains that facials may remove blackheads, but there’s no guarantee they won’t come back. She says you should take into consideration that your face might be too oily. Or perhaps you’re putting something on your face that is comedogenic — a product which blocks your pores. It could be a face powder or moisturizer.

Dr. Palabyab says that the best product that can combat blackheads is tretenoin. It helps loosen comedones and blackheads. It makes them easier to press out by loosening up the "plugs" in the pores. I highly advise you see a dermatologist so he/she can prescribe the proper strength of tretenoin for your skin.

However, Dr. Palabyab warns that using tretenoin has its side effects such as redness, irritation and itchiness. The dermatologist will explain that these are just temporary. You will also be told what to expect so you know what’s good for your skin. Yes, you can have a facial to remove your blackheads, but tretenoin can prevent blackheads. The dermatologist can also prescribe a soap suited for your skin especially if it’s oily. Visiting a dermatologist is important. One visit can help you find out what your skin type and the cause of your blackheads are.

As for that brand-new glow you desire, here’s what Dr. Palabyab has to say: "Glutathione is not a miracle product — it helps. But between the two, tretenoin is the product that will give you the glow."

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E-mail your questions and comments to: rissa_ms@hotmail.com.