Some Fast Facts About Eczema According to the National Skin Centre (NSC), at least 1 out of 10 people (10%) in Singapore will be affected by eczema at some point in their life. Here are some facts you should know about the skin disease: It results in dry, inflamed and scaly skin It is one of the most commonly treated skin diseases at the NSC There is no proven cause of eczema, but research points to a combination of hereditary factors and external triggers The incidence of eczema in Singapore is among the highest in the world The condition is not contagious There is no cure, but the symptoms ..read more

Having lived and worked in London for 2 years, I could now understand and appreciate the beauty, the warmth, the colour and the life that the sun brings! Sun lovers tend to focus on the goodness of sun exposure and cite the need for vitamin D, which promises strong joints and bones. They never thought much about the bad effects of sun exposure. Most sun damage is cumulative in our lifetime. Besides causing premature ageing, sun exposure may lead to diseases such as skin cancer and the deadly melanoma. Fortunately, it is never too late to be wise about sun protection. Just make sure you follow ..read more

Warts are common and they are a type of skin infection. Warts are caused by virus, Human papillomavirus (HPV) to be specific. One British Professor of Dermatology once quipped that dermatologists are kept gainfully employed because of warts! Indeed, as a dermatologist, I see patients with wart weekly, sometimes even daily. Patients are concerned if the warty growths they have are cancerous? Why and how did they get them? Will it spread to their family members? Quite a few are conscious that they are carrying a skin infection! Many have tried all kinds of self-remedy. Often, they have tried wit ..read more

Introduction to Rosacea: Symptoms and Causes Rosacea is a common, chronic skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Its primary symptoms include skin redness, flushing, visible blood vessels, and sometimes small, red, pus-filled bumps which can be both embarrassing and physically uncomfortable. The exact cause of rosacea is still unknown, but likely a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Possible triggers for rosacea include exposure to sunlight, stress, hot or cold temperatures, spicy foods, alcohol, and certain medications.  If you are suffering from rosacea ..read more

Introduction Acne is a common condition that affects 70-80% of the teenage population worldwide. It can be difficult to treat, and most acne treatments have some side effects. Blue light therapy for acne is suitable for treating mild or moderate cases of inflammatory acne and it has been effective to reduce the inflammatory acne by 60-70% according to published data. I would like to share what our Stellar M22 targeted blue light therapy is, how it works, and its impressive improvement in more than 90% of our patients who have received the treatment. What Is Blue Light Acne Treatment? Blue ligh ..read more

What Is a Keloid Scar? A keloid is a kind of overgrown scar that is thick and elevated. It appears when our body delivers an overly aggressive healing response to a wound. Keloids can develop from skin injuries such as acne, ear piercings, or surgery, and are most commonly found on the earlobes, shoulders, chest and joints. For patients who are prone to keloids, they may appear in more than one location. While keloid scars do not pose a danger to your health, they can create cosmetic concerns, and caused emotional distress especially if it forms on the jawline, exposed part of the body like ch ..read more

Covid-19 Infection and Skin Problems Covid-19 infection is a multi-system disorder where skin involvement is common. Interestingly, data from a UK Covid-19 symptoms study with 11544 respondents reveals that: 17% of Covid-19 positive patients reported skin rashes as the FIRST presentation of symptoms; 21% reported skin rashes as the ONLY clinical problem of Covid-19. Similarly, Covid skin issues have also been reported in 20.4% of Italian patients, 7.25% in Indians and 0.2% in Chinese. What Are the Common Skin Problems Caused by Covid-19? A Spanish study published in April 2020 with 375 cases ..read more

Recently, a young lady with many moles came to me for a second opinion.  She has had her mole checked as well as laser mole removal done by another doctor. However, her mole specimens which were sent for laboratory analysis were reported to be too tiny, charred and inadequate for proper evaluation for the exclusion of skin cancer. Understandably, she was anxious! After clinical consultation and examination, I concluded that her risk for skin cancer was low and all her remaining moles were normal looking. All her moles could have been removed without the need to send specimens for lab ..read more

I started my dermatology career 28 years ago in the Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, under the mentorship of the late Professor Chan Heng Leong. It was the good old apprenticeship system. You follow the master, observe, discuss, learn and read up on your own. The emphasis then was still largely medical dermatology. However, the ensuing 20 years turned out to be a rather exciting time. This was the time when laser surgery entered the field of dermatology. Firstly, CO2 laser, the workhorse laser. Thereafter, other lasers followed it e.g. Pulse dye laser and Q- switched Y ..read more

Since time immemorial, women of light and fair skin have always been considered beautiful. Women around the world often go to great lengths to lighten their skin to look more attractive. In Asia, it is every woman’s dream to have light and fair skin. That is why skin lightening treatment and skin care products are so very popular in this part of the world. 4 in 10 women surveyed in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea have been reported to use skin brightening products. Skin Brightening What is Skin Brightening? The term “Skin brightening” is used pretty loose ..read more