Protect your baby even before you get pregnant

Retinoids is a wonderful medicine that helps to treat acne, rosacea, folliculitis, psoriasis and many skin conditions. It can even smoothen skin tone and stimulate collagen production. But do not use retinoids especially the oral form (e.g. Roaccutane) during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In fact, you must be more than 100% sure you are not pregnant before starting it, and if you are sexually active, use at least two forms of birth control e.g. birth control pill + condoms.

Being a parent is a serious responsibility. With oral retinoids, it is almost a sure thing that the innocent baby will end up with birth defects.
 
You are on oral retinoids and planning to get married? Afraid not. Just inform your dermatologist so that we can help with your family and skin care planning by changing your medications to other safer options. 

Different oral retinoids stay in the body for different duration. Usually you will be told to stop your isotretinoin for at least a month (or until next menstrual cycle), but with acitretin, it is probably best to plan for pregnancy after 3 years of stopping it! For this reason, we seldom start young ladies on childbearing age on acitretin unless we have no other option.

Some medications may even pass to the future baby from the father. One of the example is methotrexate. The whole process of spermatogenesis in human takes about 74 days, and if you count in the transport in the ductal system, it can take about 3 months. Hence, it is best to wait for at least 3 months after the father has stopped methotrexate before making baby!

For all future mothers, here’s other medicines and things you need to stop. This list is not complete and some medications can not be stopped just like that, your baby need healthy mother to take good care of him/her too, so please check with your doctor before planning for your family!
 
⛔️painkillers
⛔️immunosuppresants and chemotherapies
⛔️some blood thinners e.g warfarin
⛔️cholesterol medicines
⛔️some seizure medicines
⛔️some antihypertensives
⛔️some antidepressants and mood stabiliser
⛔️some antifungals
⛔️some antibiotics
⛔️alcohol
⛔️caffeine
⛔️⛔️smoking

And don’t forget to start taking folic acid!

Keloids

My friend has keloids on her chest. Cryotherapy, laser or plastic surgery?

Keloids happen when your skin doesn’t realise it has healed and continues to grow much larger than the original wound, often to the extent that it is painful. Once started, it can continue to grow for months and even years.

Cryotherapy may help small keloids. My first line treatment of choice is intralesional corticosteroid injections because it is cost effective in softens/ shrinks the scar and reduces the pain. Patient often feel much better after the very first injection. I usually encourage patient to use silicone sheets and do scar massages at home. If the location allows, wearing pressure garment is a great adjunct.

Ablative and non-ablative lasers can help to reduce the height and redness.
 
Surgical removal (especially on the chest) has nearly 100% recurrence rate and is only used in combination with other treatment modalities.

My scar did not heal well

My first surgical scar healed well but the second surgical scar doesn’t. Why?

Many factors could affect scar formation.
1. The site of less tension (less tightness) tends to heal better e.g. inner arm vs. shoulder
2. The site of better blood supply heals better, e.g. face vs. feet
3. The doctor’s skill
4. Patient factors, e.g smoking, diabetes, genetics
5. Timing of stitch removal, hygiene, absence of infection and good wound care etc.

How do minimise scar after surgery / injury?
 
1. Keep the area dry especially the first few days.
2. Keep the area clean.
3. Allow the wound to "breathe".
4. Consider silicone adhesive dressing.
5. Minimise movement of the area (avoid pulling or tugging on the wound)
6. If there is risk of infection, consider the use of antiseptics. Consult your doctor if there is a need for antibiotics if the wound is weepy, changing colour or foul smelling.
7. If it forms a scab, do not pick on it, allow the scab to fall off naturally.
8. Sun protection
9. Moisturiser --- but not on raw wound

Hair care tips for swimmers

I’m a professional swimmer and have very dry skin. I suspect it’s all those chlorine in the pool that has damaged my skin (and hair). I don’t want to quit swimming. What can I do?

1. Stay hydrated and drink regularly before, during and after your swim.
2. Wear silicone swim cap to protect your hair.
3. Apply occlusive moisturiser to seal your skin off chlorinated pool water before a dip.
4. Apply double layer of sunscreen and reapply every hour if you are swimming under direct sunlight.
5. Take a lukewarm shower after the swim and use a gentle cleanser. Don’t forget to use conditioner for your hair after shampooing.
6. Moisturise your skin immediately and generously after the shower.

Whitening laser and gutatte pigmentation

Happy Halloween!
Did you get scare by this pale face of mine? Hahaha.

But white or fair skin has been recognised as beauty in Asian for years. Top sales of skin care products in Asian? I would imagine it to be one of those whitening products rather than sunscreen.

Is whitening laser safe?

When you mentioned "whitening laser", I assume you are referring to Q-switched Nd-Yag 1064nm laser.

Q-switched Nd-Yag has become very popular nowadays because it offers to treat many pigmentation problem and rejuvenation by stimulation of collagen production at the same time. 1064nm has been said to be the most suitable whitening wavelength for Asian skin as the risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is small. Nowadays, you get to do it everywhere, in beauty saloon, in medispa, in general clinics. And it is often marketed as "lunch time laser" as it usually give very short down time (some redness is what you may get) especially when administered in low fluence using large spot size, or what is also known as toning laser.

As this "whitening and rejuvenation laser" getting more common, some people found instead of getting a homogenous white and fair skin, they get white spots. Some people get this even after just 4-5 times of laser, not necessarily after years of repetitive treatment. (Not all Q-switched Ng-Yag lasers are the same, even if they are of the same 1064nm wavelengths) The "solution"? Some people end up going for more and more whitening laser! Instead of monthly, some started to do it every 2 weeks, and every week, and every other days, and even everyday! (This happened especially for those who bought "packages of laser" to save cost or perhaps some centres who offered free rescue treatments.) The consequences, from one white spots to multiple white spots to lacey and mottled appearance.

We do not know why this happened. Perhaps the cumulative laser has destroyed the melanocytes (pigment producing cells) in the skin. What is horrible with this condition caused by "whitening laser" compared to other types of laser such as CO2 resurfacing laser and ruby laser is that this mottled or guttate pigmentation is very difficult to treat. Doctors have tried using topical whitening cream, steroids, calcineurin inhibitors and phototherapy with narrow band ultrabiolet B and various other modalities but many remained the same after years and probably going to be permanent!

No, I'm not saying Q-switched Nd-Yag laser is all evil and no good. Neither did I say you should not do it at all. It has helped many with pigmentation problems if done in a careful way.

I'm asking you to be just a little more careful. And I am definitely against buying or selling large packages of laser treatments as marketing strategies. Please do go to a good doctor who know what exactly he or she is doing. Go to a doctor who will be honest with you what are the pros and cons and what to expect. Very few treatments under the sun is without a single risk since even doing nothing and just staying under the sun is with skin cancer risk as well. As long as you know what to expect, when to put a stop to it, what remedial measures to be taken, you should be fine, most if not all the time.

If you have bought packages of "whitening laser", (yes, you may be heading for problem) and do not want to "waste" it. What I can advise you to do is that do not do it too frequently and closely monitor your face. If you notice white spots starting to appear, stop the laser treatment. do not go for further laser treatment even if you still have another 5 or 10 more treatments to go.  (What? You still have 20 over sessions? What a big "packages"! You must be kidding me!) Use sunscreen diligently and keep your fingers crossed, perhaps it is not permanent yet.

Read some cases from Singapore here.

Skin Care Routine for Dull and Uneven Skin Tone

My skin is dull and I have uneven skin tone. What can I do about it?

Pigment problem is so common, which is why foundation, concealer, BB cream and CC cream are essential items in most ladies' makeup bag.

Try out this simple yet effective skin care routine to help brighten up your skin and smooth-en your skin tone.

Morning:
1. Gentle cleanser
2. Antioxidant + sunscreen

Re-apply sunscreen 2 hourly throughout the day. (Yes, I know it isn't easy, but good skin doesn't come the easy way for most people after 30 years old.)

Night:
1. Makeup remover / gentle cleanser
2. Retinoids or retinol
3. Moisturiser

A few reminders:

1. Prescribed topical retinoids (common acne medication) is more effective but may cause irritation (dry, red and even skin peeling for some). Start with a pea size and observe your skin reaction for a week or even two before increasing the amount.
2. If you have sensitive skin and are trying out new skin care products, start one by one, a week or two apart, just in case you develop any skin reaction, it's easier to identify the culprit.
3. If "water" is your usual "morning cleanser" and you have no skin problem, go ahead, it makes your routine even simpler. Personally I do not use cleanser except makeup remover and I strongly feel cleanser isn't for everyone, especially if your skin is not too oily. But please do remove your makeup completely.

How to keep your skin hydrated?

Malaysia is a humid country, yet we keep on seeing people, with underlying skin problem or without, coming with dry and even cracked skin.

Here's a few tips on how to keep your skin hydrated.

1. Drink water, whenever you feel thirsty. Sounds dumb but how many of us forget to listen to our body cues when er are too engrossed in our work? We lose water in our sweats, urine, bowel movements and even while we breathe. A standard recommendation is to drink 6-8 glasses a day but really there is no "standard" for everyone because we are all different. Exactly how much water one needs depends on many factors from how much you exercise to your metabolic rate to how dry the environment is. Drinking too much water to the extent of water toxicity can lead to confusion and even coma and death. (But who on the earth in their right minds would drink so much water!?)
2. Talk short cold or lukewarm water shower rather than long hot baths (if you have eczema, keep the shower shorter than 5 minutes).
3. Use gentle cleanser instead of soap bar or antiseptic shower gel.
4. Apply generous amount of moisturiser immediately after baths (well not exactly immediate, within 3 minutes or when your skin is still damp).
5. Use paper mask. Paper mask is a great and yet economical invention of facial skin care. If not properly use, it may over hydrate the skin around the eyes making you look puffy though.
6. Use fabric gloves and socks after putting on moisturiser if you have dry hands or feet. This is a form of occlusion which will help your skin absorbs the moisturiser better, keep the moisture longer besides keeping your bed sheet and blanket clean.
7. Avoid direct sunlight, smoking, sauna.

Facial Mist Spray

"I hate applying cream and I'd rather use facial mist spray to hydrate my skin."

Using facial mist spray to hydrate the skin? You must be kidding me.

Water doesn't stay long on the skin, whatever being added in, hyaluronic acid or essential oil. It stays at best 3 minutes? Or 5 minutes? Depending on the additives and also the moisture in the surrounding air. Whatever it is, it is way too short to give adequate hydration. And nobody is going to carry a spray and spray every 30 minutes throughout the day! I don't.

If you mist your skin with water or a water-based product, IT WILL MAKE THE WATER IN YOUR SKIN EVAPORATE OUT! Yes, and this means it will leave your skin even more dehydrated and dryer than before.

How should facial mist spray or water spray be used?

You should apply a moisturiser when your skin is still damp, preferably an occlusive moisturiser that will prevent the water from evaporating to the environment.  Occlusive moisturiser are usually on the heavier side as they are often more oily. Examples of occlusives include petrolatum, triglycerides, beewax, lecithin, sequalene and various oils. Yes, some of these can be greasy and may not be good for acne prone skin.

Other ways that facial mist spray can be used include

• Set the make-up
• Refreshing stress relief especially after a long tired day
• As a "toner" to clean and soothe irritated skin

What is Epidermolysis Bullosa?

The Star has recently published an interview of a mother with her butterfly child. And Dr. Sabeera talking about what is Epidermolysis Bullosa, a group of rare genetic skin disease which is likely underdiagnosed in this part of the world as the awareness of its presence isn't high, not only among layperson but also among healthcare providers.

DEBRA Malaysia has "hunt down" about 100 families in Malaysia suffering from this condition since its establishment in 2013. I thought this video from DEBRA UK is a very nice illustration of what EB is all about, click play if you are interested to know. :)

Vitamin C for fairer skin?

Lemon lemon on the tree, who's the fairest of them all? Fair skin has long been considered beautiful by many. Can vitamin C lightens the skin?

Vitamin C inhibits tyrosinase enzymes to reduce conversion of tyrosine into melanin which is responsible for skin pigmentation. Vitamin C also boosts the level of glutathione and vitamin E in the blood besides being an antioxidant itself.

However it is difficult to obtain very high dose vitamin C from food alone. And even if you supplements, our body cannot retain the extra vitamin C level beyond a certain point and you will start urinating it out. The amount of vitamin C that can ever reach the skin is likely quite minimal.
 
The solution? Use topical vitamin C! And when you use topical vitamin C, choosing the right concentration (around 15-20%), the right stable form and the right packaging (easily oxidised away) matter!

Dark Eye Circles

Why are dark eye "circles" rather than semicircles? 

Probably because it can affect the upper eyelids in some people, not only the under eyes area.
 
Medical terms used for dark eye circles include periorbital melanosis, periorbital pigmentation, periocular hyperpigmentation, periorbital darkening etc.
Eye drops for glaucoma may cause temporary dark eye circles too. This is usually reversible once the medications are no longer needed.

Can you help me with my dark eye circles? 

As with any other medical concern, we have to first see the cause before discussing on treatment. And in many instances, it is more than just what some eye cream can solve.

There are many types and many ways of classifying dark eye circles. But generally dark eye circles can be cause be actual pigmentation (usually brown in colour), prominent vessels (usually bluish or purplish) and structural (skin colored), and frequently a combination of a few factors.

Aging and skin thinning, excessive sun exposure, fatigue and eye strain are among the most common cause of dark eye circles.

While patients are usually more concerned over the tired look, doctors should always look out for
💉Systemic causes (presence of other more severe medical illness)
💉Atopic diseases (often related with frequent rubbing)
💉Chronic sinusitis
💉Skin diseases
💉Nutritional deficiencies
💉Sleep disturbances
💉Use of hormonal supplements / products 

Certain medications such as glaucoma eye drops may cause dark eye circles too.

Treatment usually involve not a single visit. All contributing factors should be identified and if possible get treated. 

Cosmetic manufacturers often overly optimistic with their promises in dark eye circle treatment. Treatment with over-the-counter eye creams are unfortunately rarely successful. Apart from medical grade topical creams (often include a sunscreen and a bleaching agent, or chemical peels), botulinum toxins, fillers, lasers and even surgeries may be required. 

Reducing that bruise

I want to go for filler injections. My doctor told me one of the potential side effects is that I could have bruises under my eyes. I know this should be temporary but I'm very worried as I usually bruise quite badly and easily with minor fall. Is there any way to reduce the chance of me bruising?

From a simple needle prick to procedures like filler, or even major surgery, every procedure that manipulate your skin potentially causes bleeding and bruising.

Here's how you can do to reduce the chance or the severity of bleeding and bruises.
✅ Avoid aspirin, NSAIDS (a type of painkillers), vitamin C & E, fish oil a week before
✅ Stop alcohol and garlic 2 days before
✅ Avoid excessive exercise immediately before and 2 days after
✅ Avoid flight 1-2 days if possible (change of cabin pressure)
❓Pineapples contains bromelain and may help to reduce bruising

Videos for Eczema Children

Acne in mature skin

I am in my late 40's. And I still get acne. Why?

Contrary to popular belief, acne isn't just a problem of the teenagers. Young babies can get acne (known as infantile acne, often temporary). Most people do not get severe acne after menopause but yes, you may still get acne at a mature age.

The reason you get acne is probably not much of a difference to that of the teenagers. But there may be other things that you would want to consider if you have never had acne and suddenly suffering from severe breakout at this point of time.

1. Did you recently change your skin care products? Some people changed their skin care products to those "designed for mature skin" which are usually more greasy and may block the pores.
2.  Did you recently change your skin care routine? Did you just started on a face scrubs? Or tried a new facial treatment?
3. Did you recently go travelling?
4. A recent change of job?
5. Could it be something else rather than a true acne? Some skin diseases may mimick acne, and these include acne rosacea, sebaceous hyperplasia, milia and bacteria folliculitis.

Consult a dermatologist if you are not sure.

Healing Eczema Without Steroids

Recently, one of my patient with very severe eczema on methotrexate asked: "Can I heal my eczema without any steroids?"

Yes, you can.

Just like how your chickenpox can heal without antiviral, your runny nose can heal without any antihistamines, your sore throats can heal without any antibiotics, some women can even deliver at home, your eczema can heal without any steroids.

"Steroids is not a cure for eczema, they said," she told me. She was invited to join a support group for "healing eczema without steroids". And she has came across many natural healing advocates who strongly urge everyone to avoid steroids.

And I do not beg to differ.

What I want you to know is that "dermatologists readily dish out steroids" to help you getting over the most difficult time, and we have absolutely no intention not to harm you. In case some may have forgotten, our oath says "First do no harm" and our motto is "To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always".

I am not against natural path. But if you want to go absolutely steroids free, these are what I would suggest,

1. Avoid all irritants and your known allergens
2. Keep your bathing brief (<5 minutes) and not too frequent, using slight lukewarm water
3. Use gentle cleanser instead of soap (no natural handmade soap please and no bubble bath)
4. Always keep your skin moist, frequent re-application of moisturiser is the key
5. Seal in the moisture with occlusives (parrafin, vaseline ointment, dimethicone if you hate that greasy feeling)
6. If you feel really itchy, replace that scratch with applying cold pack or cold cream (no need to buy any particular brand of cold cream, just keep your hypoallergic moisturiser in the fridge)
7. Use immunomodulators such as topical tacrolimus, pimecrolimus
8. Ask your doctor about phototherapy (controlled light treatment) to see if you are a good candidate
9. If you are going for alternative medicine, please go for facilities with proper registration and certification (although I have no idea how to check that these are in place), and do ask them if their treatments may have any potential short term or long term side effects (Perhaps they might not actively discuss with you if you don't ask? Well, the reason I said this is because I have a teenage boy with eczema who came to me after 2 years of herbal remedies which was initially very effective and now he is suffering from stunted growth and a few other problems)

Whatever your choice is, take good care of your skin and get better soon!

Sunburn remedy

I came home from an outing with friends and found myself sunburnt despite using sunscreen! What should I do now?

No sunscreen offer 100% protection, which is why they are now known as sunscreen rather than sunblock.

Sunburn should be treated as soon as possible. Here's what you should do:

1. Seek shade immediately, if you are still outdoor.
2. Cool down with a shower or baths.
3. Apply a generous layer of moisturiser over the sunburnt area.
4. Apply mild topical corticosteroids to reduce the redness and swelling.
5. Drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration.

If you have a blister at the sunburnt area, do not de-roof it. De-roofing and leaving raw skin exposed poses a risk of secondary bacterial infection and slows down healing.

If there is a large area of blisters, or you are starting to feel feverish or chills, you should seek medical consultation immediately.

Practise strict sun protection until the burned area completely heal.

Preparing your own saline solution

What it is for?

To wash the raw wound / blistering area, or you can even use it to bathe if there is any condition causing extensive skin loss.

Why using a saline solution?

It is isotonic. That means it will not draw water in or out of your raw wound hence there will be less pain.

It cleans and wound and reduces the risk of secondary bacterial infection.

How to prepare it?

Simply add 9g of salt to a litre of water. Viola!

If you have just a small wound, buy those bottled sterile saline bottle that are readily available in most pharmacies. Yes, those that are used to wash contact lenses one will do.

Expired sunscreen

I just noticed my sunscreen has expired 6 months ago. It wasn't cheap and I don't feel like wasting it. Can I still use it?

While a sunscreen may not necessary go bad immediately after the expiry date, the expiry date stated is actually the duration that the product remained effective and safe based on the manufacturer's test.

Physical agents such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide usually lasts longer than chemical agents.

If it doesn't "smell bad", it could very well still be safe to be used despite a reduced effect of protection. A reduced effect means even if you are applying adequate amount, it may not reached the labelled SPF. Most sunscreen in the market comes in a bottle of 30-50ml. If you apply it generously on all the exposed part of the body, you would have finished the bottle in no time. ;P

Since there is no way to be sure of the efficacy and safety after the expiry date and if you ask for my advice, I would have to tell you to throw it out.

Stitch Removal

Someone asks,
"Can I remove my stitches myself at home?"
"What if I can't make it on the appointment date given for stitch removal?"

I personally would advice against attempting to remove the stitches at home if you are not a trained healthcare personnel.

Why?

There's a few things that your doctor need to assess when he or she removes your stitches. For one, he or she needs to check if your wound has healed nicely and it's ready for the stitches to be removed. If the stitches are removed too early, you may risk having the wound gaps and you may need re-suturing. If the stitches are removed too late, more often than not the suture materials maybe buried under the skin making it difficult to remove and at higher risk of scarring.

Also, he or she needs to check if there is any sign of infection. If there is any early sign of infection, it should be treated early.

When should a stitch be removed?

When a stitch needs to be removed depends on a few factors.

First, the location of the wound, generally the wound of the face heals faster and will be removed soonest compare to other parts of the body, for example legs.

Second, the types of sutures used. Some sutures are absorbable and does not require opening of stitches.

Third, the tension of the stitches on the skin.

Other factors include age, smoking, underlying skin disease, previously irradiated skin, general health, infection etc.

Generally the doctor who stitched it will be the best person to advice you when is the best time to remove it.

Can't make it for the appointment to remove the stitch?

If possible, always tell your doctor before he or she make that stitch so that he or she can plan something else for you. Intradermal or subcuticular stitching with absorbable sutures will be fine to leave in.

Is there any nearby healthcare facility, a family doctor clinic for example, to help you removing it?

If you are confident enough and really want to remove it yourself, ask your doctor if he or she could provide you with the material and teach you how. ;)

Quick Fix for Acne

I've picked a pimple and it became red and swollen. I have an event coming up in 3 days. How do I speed up the healing process?

Are there quick fix for acne? 

The answer is yes. But we will need to assess the condition of the "red and swollen" acne to see if which fix is for you.

If the acne was "properly picked", the picking itself should have shortened this particular acne's "lifespan". You can hasten the recovery further by applying a non-comedogenic moisturiser.

By "properly picked", I mean it should be picked hygienically and completely without any residue or pus being left behind.

If the acne was not "properly picked", and has "swollen" and might even appear to be forming up a cyst, then you might need intralesional steroids (which means injecting low concentration of steroids directly to the cyst itself) to reduce the redness and the swelling quickly.

If the acne was not ready to be picked, light and laser treatment could be helpful to hasten its maturity so that it can heal faster.

If in doubt, it is always good to pay a visit to your nearest dermatology facility. If that is not possible before your event, a professional concealer could do the trick! ;P

Hair Thinning? Could it be androgenetic alopecia?

Losing hair and it seems to run in the family? It could be androgenetic alopecia.

What is this?

This is a type of hair loss that is genetically determined.

The basic

Hair are produced from the hair follicles. And it has a few phases.
Anagen: growth phase
Catagen: involution phase
Telogen: resting phase

What happens in androgenetic alopecia is that there is
1. Increased hair shedding
2. Miniaturisation of hair (thick large pigmented terminal hair --> thinner and shorter indeterminate hairs --> short and non-pigmented vellus hair)

Generally people with this condition tends to have gradual hair loss.
For men,  it usually start with recession of frontal hair lone and gradual thinning at the sides.
For women, it usually start over the crown. Luckily usually there isn't an area of marked baldness.

Why should you see a doctor?

There are many other causes of hair loss. Some people have temporary hair thinning due to stress, drugs or nutritional deficiency. Diffuse alopecia areata may look like androgenetic alopecia too.

Again, I must stress that effective treatment comes after an accurate diagnosis. What works for others who stand out to be the testimonials of certain products may not be what works for you. An accurate diagnosis to begin with will save you a lot of unnecessary money spent.

Investigations and treatment of androgenetic alopecia is not that cheap, but how many times we have encounter patients who have spent up to 5 figures buying packages of hair growth treatment at "hair specialist" saloon or spa trying to "treat Demodex infection that eats up the hair" or "clear the clogged hair follicles" etc.?

While majority of people with this condition can be otherwise quite normal, some people may have abnormal thyroid function, sex hormone etc. Others can have hair thinning as part of polycyctic ovarian syndrome where they might have acne, irregular menses, excessive body hair or even difficulty to get pregnant.

What are the treatments for me?

The treatment for androgenetic alopecia needs to be individualised. But before we talk about treatment, you must understand that the main aim of treatment is to slow or stop the progression of hair loss. While some people can get their hair regrowth, some may not. And it is difficult to predict who may response and who may not.

Main treatments available includes:
1. Topical solutions e.g. minoxidil
2. Oral tablets e.g. finasteride (for men only), spironolactone etc.
3. Low level laser therapy
4. Platelet rich plasma
5. Hair filler
6. Hair transplant

The list above is definitely not exhaustive. And don't forget cosmetic dermatology with hair thickening, hair camouflage, hair prosthesis and wigs.

At the moment,  hair implants are NOT recommended because these synthetic fiber implants are not only expensive, they are also dangerous and leading to a whole lots of complications.

Eczema and Career

I have eczema since young. Will it affect my career choice?

Unfortunately yes.

Certain jobs can be problematic for people with more than just mild eczema, especially if you will be in contact with irritants that may make your eczema flare-up more frequent. These include nursing, cleaning, catering, hairdressing etc.

But if you really love a job, think about measures that you can take to protect your skin. Proper use of personal protective gear may help.

Sunscreen for Indoor

My melasma is getting worse although I hardly go outdoor. Should I use sunscreen indoor?

Yes you should!

Why?

Ultraviolet rays can get to you even if you just stay indoors.

Do not underestimate the amount of ultraviolet rays that pass through the windows or glass door. clear glass allows 75% of UVA rays through. Even if there is tinting, up to 50% of the UVA rays may still pass through.

Travelling in a car? The  ultraviolet rays may pass through the car windows. 

Indoor lighting particularly fluorescent lighting, especially if the distance from the skin is close. This means desk lamps, bed lamps and overhead lamps are not a good idea for those with melasma and photosensitivity.

Other sources include TV monitors, computer monitors, tablets etc. Luckily nowadays, most traditional monitors have been replaced by LCD display which do not emit UV rays. They still do emit high energy visible lights though.


What you can do?

Add acrylic or plastic diffusers to indoor lights.
Choose incandescent bulbs or LEDs rather than fluorescent lights .
Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen and use it even indoor.


You might be interested to read:
Choosing The Best Sunscreen - Beyond UVR protection 
How much sunscreen is 2mg/cm2
Sunscreen and Moisturiser

"Dress code" for eczema

I have severe eczema and I tend to scratch a lot. I find it embarassing to go out to meet people with all the rashes and scratch marks on my skin, in particularly on my legs. What should I wear?

Many people with eczema has similar struggle. While we do not want you to fight with your wardrobe and to limit your style of fashion, but choosing the right clothing can help you feel comfortable and make peace with your skin.

The softer the cloth, the gentler it is to your skin.

Cotton clothes is usually gentle and comfortable to the skin.

As a general rule, avoid wool, synthetic fabrics and lace especially if it is irritating to your skin.

Functional textiles

There are some studies on the use of functional textiles. These include the use of silk, antimicrobial silk and silver impregnated fabrics. The support is weak but at least there is no hazard to try (no hazard to your skin, but may be hazardous to your wallet, haha).

Sunscreen and Moisturiser

Should I apply moisturiser before or after the sunscreen?

 

One of the frequently asked questions!

Save those bucks on day time moisturiser for a better sunscreen because you don't need another moisturiser to go with the sunscreen.

Using an extra moisturiser may reduce the actual amount of sunscreen applied on the face. And that means you are even farther away from the magical 2mg/cm2 figure to reach the labelled SPF value on the sunscreen bottle.

Tips:

1. If you feel your skin is too dry and need extra moisture, choose a thicker cream base sunscreen. If you feel your skin is often greasy and oily, choose a gel, fluid or lotion base sunscreen. Better still, choose one with diamethicone, so that it is occlusive with that extra protection effect, yet not leaving the greasy feeling.
2. Apply sunscreen half hour before leaving the house and reapply every 2 hours particularly if you go under the sun.
3. Don't leave out the back of the neck! Other commonly miss area include the ears and the toes.

Enjoy slapping your sunscreen away!

You might be interested in:

Choosing the best sunscreen

How much sunscreen is 2mg/cm2 

Sunscreen for Indoor

Bed bugs

I'm traveling soon. During my last trip to Italy, I came back with very itchy bumps which I was told could be due to bed bugs. What can I do to avoid getting bed bugs again?

Bed bugs is on the rise. More and more local and international travelers came back with bed bugs. Bed bugs usually gives rise to itchy red bumps on exposed part of the body. They do not transmit serious illness but can be a great nuisance.

Why is bed bugs on the rise? 

The biggest reason is probably because more and more people are traveling. These bugs are often found in hotels, hostels, apartments. They can hide in small crevices of luggage from one place to another. As they are small, they can conveniently hide on clothing, furniture and even on your pets. A lot of pesticides for example DDT has been banned for environmental issue. And the natural predators of bed bugs such as cockroaches are being hunted down. Other predators of bed bugs include spiders and ants.

How do I know it is bed bugs and not something else?

If there are new itchy bumps on the exposed part of the body, especially when you have slept on a used bed the night before, then most likely you are getting bed bugs.

You might want to look at the seams of the mattresses for blood stains, rusty spots of bed bug excrement, egg shells, or you might even find a bug or two, which is usually visible with naked eyes as they are about 5mm in size. Bed bugs give a musty odor. Do not forget to check the phone directories, carpets and your luggage too.

How to reduce the risk of bed bugs when travelling?

• Avoid sleeping on used bed, especially if it has a musty odor
• Keep the luggage zipped up even within hotel room
• Store the luggage high
• Store the luggage in the bathroom if possible (it is not easy for bed bugs to climb up the slippery porcelain)
• Wash all your clothes upon getting home, even if you have not worn some of them

Click here for a slideshow on bed bugs.


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Skin and Traveling

Itchy Food (Pseudo-food allergy)

I have eczema. Every time I take seafood, my skin itches. What are the food that I should avoid?

I have wrote on Food and Eczema earlier. Diet restriction is only recommended for people with proven food allergy. But a lot of people with negative skin prick test and negative serum IgE to food allergen still complain of itch when they take certain food.

Yes, certain food does make you feel more itchy even though you do not really have food allergy! Why? 

These are food that contains high level of histamine. While most people are happily eating away, some people has lower enzymes (s.g. diamine oxidase) to degrade histamine content in food and may experience "pseudoallergy". Itch and hives are among the common symptom, others may experience facial flushing, angioedema (eye and lips swelling), eczema and even flare up of acne, rosacea and psoriasis. Some people may experience diarrhoea, headache, runny nose and asthma. Just to name a few.

Food with high histamine-releasing capacities include

• Alcohol
• Canned food
• Shellfish
• Smoked meat
• Sausage 
• Certain fishes such as tuna and mackerel
• Beans
• Nuts
• Chocolates
• Vinegar

Food that may not contain high histamine level but trigger the body to release histamines include

• Citrus fruits
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Papaya
• Wheat germ
• Nuts
• Chocolates
• Liquorice
• Certain fish 
• Shellfish
• Pork
• Egg white
• Certain additives and spices

Food that reduces diamine oxidase enzymes include alcohol, energy drink, black tea and green tea.

Should eczema patient takes low histamine diet?

Some patients with severe eczema find taking low histamine diet helpful, in particularly during flare ups. Generally diet restriction is not recommended for people living with eczema, unless there is real intolerance.


You may be interested to read:
Food and eczema

Choosing A Topical Steroids

Which topical steroids is the right one for me?

I have previously blogged about Steroid Fear and The do's and don't of using topical steroids in eczema. Before I start on how to choose the right topical steroids, I cannot stress enough that the success of using topical steroids starts from an accurate diagnosis, which means using it in the indicated and right situation.

Common conditions treatable with topical steroids include eczema, psoriasis and lichen planus.

There are many topical steroids in the market. They vary in potencies and preparations. Some even comes in combination with antifungals and antibiotics. Generally combinations of topical steroids and antifungals is not recommended as it may lead to persistent fungal infection.

Preparations (vehicles)

Steroids comes in various preparations, generally the ""heavier" the preparation, the "stronger" the strength of the same steroids it carries. One example is that 1% hydrocortisone ointment is stronger than 1% hydrocortisone cream.

Ointment provides occlusion and enhanced absorption of the steroid that it carries. However, some patients may not like the greasy feeling it leaves on the skin. You may want to avoid using it on skin folds and hairy areas. Best timing to use it will be right after a shower or bath.

Creams is good to hydrate the skin and patients love it because they get absorbed after a while. However, creams do not provide occlusives effect. They often contain preservatives and some people can have allergic contact dermatitis to creams.

Lotions are even less greasy than creams. Lotions contain alcohol. Lotions are good for hairy skin because they can penetrate through the hair easily and do not leave much residue on the hair.

Gels are jelly-like. They are good for acne-prone skin. Typically gels dry up very quickly so even if you apply it on hairy area, it does not give matting of hairs.

Other preparations of medications include foams, mousses, shampoos and powder.

Strength of steroids (potency)

In laboratory, the strength of steroids is assessed based on how much it causes blanching (due to constriction of blood vessels) in normal and healthy people. This does not always translate to how strong a particular steroids' anti-inflammatory effects on a patient. However, generally the strength of clobetasol propionate is higher than betamethasone dipropionate than betamethasone valerate than hydrocortisone.

Lower potency steroids are safer for using in large surface area, longer term, thinner skin area and in children.

Superpotent steroids should not be used on face and under occlusion, unless for a very short duration.

Superpotent steroids such as clobetasol propionate are typically not recommended for continuous use longer than 3 weeks, other steroids are typically not recommended for continuous use longer than 3 months.

Summary

Things to consider when choosing the most suitable topical steroids of the right strength and right preparation include:

1. The diagnosis
2. Condition of the skin intended to apply (acne prone? very dry?)
3. Site intended to apply (thin skin area? skin folds? hairy area?)
4. Surface area intended to apply
5. Duration intended to use
6. Age (children? elderly?)
7. Pregnancy
8. Allergy (contact dermatitis to preservatives?)
9. Personal preference

You might be interested to read about:
Steroid fear 
Do's and Don'ts of Using Topical Steroids
Bathing in Eczema
Food and Eczema
Color cosmetics and Eczema
Acne and Eczema

Facial Eczema

I have eczema since childhood. I believed I have my eczema inherited from my father. My eczema has been mild all these while until my pregnancy when it suddenly become very severe. I am now 5 months post delivery but my eczema is getting worse each day. It is all over my face and I feel very miserable and depressed.

I have visited numerous doctors and tried numerous creams, steroids and non-steroids, but each time, it came back after a few days. None of the medicine heals. I expressed my frustration on facebook, and after recommendations from another mother, I seek treatment at a traditional chinese medicine centre from Taipei. I was given a soap, a spray and some creams. It helps a bit but still comes back. I was told I can't take medicine because I am still breastfeeding.

I lose my temper easily and totally lost my confident to get out of the house. What can I do?

Hugs. You are not alone. Eczema can be very frustrating. Especially when it involves the face of a young mother.

The Basics

Eczema is a group of inflammatory problem involving skin that is usually itchy. There are many types of eczema.

The one that you seems to have from your description maybe:

• Atopic eczema: typically starts young, with personal or family history of atopy, associated with defect in skin barrier and immune dysfunction
• Contact dermatitis: typically persistent and relapsing, particularly if the culprit allergens or irritants is not identified, and appropriate skin care is not in place

A little detective work

Could this be the culprit?

• Nickel and chromium, not necessarily from costume jewelleries, don't forget the mobile phones (Not common, but people can be allergic to silicone cover of the phone as well)
• Preservatives and fragrance in cleansing agent including shampoo, cleanser, mouth wash.
• Skin care products
• Cosmetics 

Important points:

A product that has been used for several years may not necessarily be safe because:

• We are not born with allergy, allergy develops over time.
• The manufacturers can change their formulas to include different ingredient and may not states it clearly.

Don't forget indirect applications can come from the touch of your own hand.

How to get better? 

Management plan of eczema needs to be personalised. Things that need to take into considerations include the stage and severity of your condition.

If your skin is weeping and oozy, you may need temporary usage of astringents, baths or even draining of water blisters. Viral and bacterial infections, if present, must be treated.

Generally, steroids and non-steroidal products help to reduce inflammation, itch and all the suffering that you are having right now.

Moisturised your skin as often as you can. Choose a hypoallergenic moisturiser. Choose an occlussive moisturiser that coats and protects your skin, preventing transepidermal water loss. Choose a therapeutic moisturiser that will help to restore the defective skin barrier.

Avoiding the culprit should get you better within a week or two although it might take months to clear up completely. If you are really not sure which is the culprit, patch testing may help.

You might be interested to read about:
Food and Eczema
Color cosmetics and Eczema
Steroid fear 
Do's and Don'ts of Using Topical Steroids
Bathing in Eczema
Acne and Eczema

Skin and Traveling

I came back from a trip lately and had very bad skin eruption which has never happened to me before. I believe the drastic change of weather is the cause. Is that true that weather affects our skin?

Yes. It is true.

Dry weather

Skin is the most superficial organ and hence it is one organ that is most exposed to the external environment and most susceptible to the change in weather.

We, Malaysian are used to hot and humid weather. If you travel to temperate countries during winter, dry skin and cracked lips are among the most common skin problems. People with eczema may suffer a severe flare if they don't moisturise their skin diligently enough.

Heat trapping clothing?

Traveling in winter, most people will wear heat trapping clothes. Wearing tight fitting or heat trapping clothing can lead to folliculitis due to irritated hair follicles.

Soaking comfortably in hot water bath?

A contaminated bathtub, or even whirlpool, swimming pool and water slides can give one pseudomonas folliculitis. There is even reports of infection from contaminated diving suits.

Sun exposure

Many people gets sunburn while traveling. We hide in shades and in air-conditioned room back in our hometown. When we go traveling, we go outdoor much more frequently. During winter in particular, we love to stand under direct sunlight, not to forget that beautiful snow reflects ultraviolet rays to our faces that are often not covered by the winter coat. The results? The flare-ups of acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, blistering diseases and lupus erythematosus (For people with all this conditions).

More exposure to ultraviolet rays also means higher skin cancer rate apart from lower the immunity and higher chance of cataracts.

Others

Apart from the change of weather, don't forget that stress, diet etc. can affect our skin. Not all trips are nice and relaxing. If you are under stress, acne, rosacea and psoriasis can crop up. If you take a lot of comfort food with high glycemic index during the trip, acne can crop up; or spicy food, and rosacea can crop up.

Do you share blankets, pillow cases or even towels and clothing while traveling? Many skin infections can spread via contacts.

Last but not least, don't forget that bed mites, ticks and scabies can be rampant in certain accommodation with suboptimal hygiene.

I love good skin but I love traveling too. What can I do to avoid skin problem?

• Sun protection - hats, scarfs, sunglasses, sunscreen, shades
• Stay moisturised and hydrated
• Stay warm
• Keep to your usual skin care routine
• Avoid sharing of personal items
• Steer away from contaminated / parasites infested places as far as possible

Acne or Eczema

My face itch with many small red bumps. Is this acne or eczema?

Acne is not typically described to be itchy. In many textbooks, itch is not mentioned as a symptom of acne at all. Having said that, a few studies have shown that 50-70% of people with acne do complain of facial itchiness, in particularly when they sweat, or in heat, or under dry air or when they feel stressful.

Eczema is usually itchy. One senior consultant dermatologist that I know loves to say, "If it ain't itchy, it is not eczema". Is there any new skin care, paper masks, makeup and any other items that you have recently use on your face prior to the onset of the problem? Or did you just have a facial treatment lately? Having said that, all that itch may not be eczema too.

Other possible "itchy red bumps" that may appear on face include rosacea, seborrheic eczema, bacterial folliculitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, miliaria, perioral dermatitis etc.

Do me a favour. If you can't figure it out it's acne or eczema in the next one to two weeks, and if it's not going away, please consult your nearest dermatologist.

Can a person with HIV get babies?

Ok, this is totally unrelated to skin, but guess I can put this under health. This morning as I was going out with my family to our favourite Bak Kut Teh place for breakfast, I received a call from my university friend who is an opthalmologist asking about this:"If a person with HIV on HAART (medicines for HIV) is getting married, can he gets babies?"

Obviously the best person to discuss his family plan would be his infectious disease physician with whom he is following up. I might not be up to date but I did a little search on BHIVA & CDC before getting the answer as follows.

If the male partner is HIV positive:

• Wait till the viral load is less than 50 for at least 6 months
• Make sure there are no other infections
• Unprotected sexual intercourse only at the fertile time of the woman's cycle
• Consider assisted conception with sperm washing or donor sperm if your risk of tramitting HIV is high (ask your ID physician) 
• Consider pre-exposure prophylaxis treatment (ask your ID physician)

If the female partner is HIV positive:

• Wait till the viral load is less than 50
• Make sure there are no other infections
• Take folic acid at least 3 months before planning for pregnancy, in particular if you are on antibiotics such as bactrim (co-trimoxazole)
• Both natural delivery and Caesarean section are possible options if your viral load is less than 50
• Intravenous infusion of HIV medicine may be given if your waters have broken or if your viral load is high

The baby will be given HIV medicine for at least 4 weeks and tested for HIV. Breastfeeding is not encouraged especially if in countries where formula milk is easily accessible.

Good to know: 
Take the HIV medications diligently, don't ever miss a dose, if the viral load is low, the risk of transmitting HIV from male partner to female partner is almost zero, and the risk of transmitting HIV from mother to newborn is less than 1%. :)