Skinrepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have terrible acne scars on my nose and cheeks.  I am already exhausted from being shuffled from skin spa to skin spa.  I have tried dermabrasion and derm rollers and have not seen satisfying results.  Is there any hope for me?

Ryan

Dear Ryan,

Acne scars are one of the most challenging skin concerns to treat.  First off, you must be advised that your skin will never go back to being 100% flawless.  Lower your expectations to about 70-90% improvement.  Second of all, it requires patience.  Since the scars are deep, it will require more than one treatment. 

For fractional laser, a range of 3-8 treatments may be necessary and may be a little costly.  The upside of laser is that the results are quite beautiful and the procedure is very quick. Dermroller treatments will also require several sessions, but expect a bloody after-procedure look.  The most affordable of all the treatments is TCA but it will require 10-15 sessions.  All procedures mentioned above have about a week of downtime. 

If immediate results are what you are after, then fillers (such as hyaluronic acid) can be used.  Like all other fillers, this is only temporary and can NOT treat ice-pick scars.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to go to a certified PDS dermatologist to treat acne scars.  Asian skin have a tendency to form dark marks after procedures.  Have your skin type assessed properly and make sure you do your research and ask your questions before deciding on a procedure.  Best of luck!

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Dear Dr. Jen,

I have loads of small, white pimples around my eye area.  No matter how much I squeeze them the pus won’t come out. How can I get rid of them?

Maya

Dear Maya,

Sounds like these might be milia around the eyes.  They may be caused by constant rubbing  of the skin or the pores may be clogged by your eye cream. For fast removal, go see your dermatologist for a scar-less draining out of the milia.  If you prefer the slow way, application of a retinol-based cream that your derma can recommend to you can eventually unroof the milias.  It may take months for the cream to work. 

Dr Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). She is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH).  For other information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/.

If you have any questions or concerns please text, email or call (the Freeman or PSH): 0932 857 7070 or <[email protected] > or (032) 233 8620 or 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.