Pimples

Dear Dr. Jen,

How many times do we need to have a facial?  My derma once told me to do it twice a month. Can facials really help my face become pimple-free?

Liberty

Dear Liberty,

If your face has pimples to begin with and you are looking to facials to solve your pimple problem, then facials is not your answer.  Pimply skin can worsen and get more irritated with facials.  What is more important for pimply skin is to diligently apply retinol-based creams to extinguish existing pimples and prevent new ones from appearing.

However, if you have the occasional one or two breakouts when you have your period or when you become stressed, the facials can help calm down your skin. If your skin is flaky and rough, a facial twice a month should be availed of. If you do not have any problems on your skin but would like to maintain a nice glow and keep blackheads at bay, once a month is sufficient. Hope this answers your question.

Dear Dr. Jen,

What exactly is a viral exanthem and how long does it last?  I have been diagnosed to have rashes due to a viral exanthem and it has been there two weeks already. My doctor told me it will go away by itself but I am getting a little worried.

Jason

Dear Jason,

Viral exanthem is a broad umbrella term that embraces all kinds of rashes caused by a virus.  This can include measles, German measles, erythema infectiosum, roseolainfantum, Epstein-Barr virus, chicken pox, erythema multiforme, pityriasisroseola, etc…

Most of the time, the rashes are itchy and uncomfortable.  It may or may not be accompanied by headache, fever, tiredness, abdominal pain, irritability and loss of appetite.  Cough and colds may also be present in some. When the rashes and symptoms are nonspecific, there is no urgent need to do expensive tests to further categorize the virus since it will go away by itself.

It will go away in a week or at most two.  Your doctor will give you some antihistamines to make the itching go away.  You may also need some pain relievers or antipyretics if you are experiencing headache or fever.

However, some specific viral exanthems need active treatment.  For example, a viral rash caused by pityriasisrosea can last as long as 12 weeks.  To cut short the three-month wait for the rashes to disappear, you may need to be seen by a PDS derma to confirm the diagnosis and get the proper treatment.  Also, chicken pox and erythema multiforme will benefit from early specific intervention.

Lastly, to ensure that scarring is minimized, staying out of the sun and liberal use of sunscreen is mandatory.  Anti-inflammatory lotions and anti-histamines help you avoid scratching and further injuring already inflamed skin.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). For information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/. For questions or concerns, please text to: 0932 857 7070; or email to: [email protected]; or call The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.