Chicken skin

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have chicken skin on my arms.  It looks very weird and it is quite rough. I’m wondering if I am allergic to chicken?  What can I do to my skin?  Is there a home remedy that I can use?

Tanya

Dear Tanya,

Have you always had allergies to chicken?  I’m guessing not. Food allergies rarely show up well into adulthood.  The most likely cause of having bumpy, rough skin on your arms is the wrong use of whitening lotions or soap and having very dry skin.

Commonly, using papaya or kojic based soap and lotion is similar to scrubbing your skin with a loofah everyday. This leads to sloughing off of the stratum corneum, revealing tender and sensitive skin underneath.  Whitening soap and lotion can also contribute to dryness of the skin.  This can make your already sensitive skin itchy.

Curing “chicken skin” simply involves use of a hypoallergenic moisturizer.  Virgin coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter and other thick emollients can help smoothen the skin and keep it adequately moisturized.

Dear Dr. Jen,

My freckles have gotten darker over the past few months.  They never used to be this obvious.  What procedure would you recommend for me?  I want the fastest one with results asap, if possible.

Wyn

Dear Wyn,

Freckles can be a genetic thing.  If either of your parents or your sibling also have freckles, chances are it runs in your family.  This does not mean however, that you simply give up and give in to having freckles forever.  Sun exposure plays a vital role in freckle-formation.  To avoid adding to your freckles and prevent those annoying dark spots from coalescing and forming “sun spots,” “age spots” or lentigos, sunblock use is a must from here on end.

Sunblock use can go a long, long way in minimizing further damage to your skin.  Use of sunscreen even while indoors is also important.  Gadget use also contributes to UV radiation to your skin, thereby leading to more freckles.

The fastest course of action you can avail of is having a laser procedure.  Most FDA-approved lasers for freckles target the melanin nests under the surface.  One to three sessions can lead to wonderful results. However, and I cannot repeat this often enough, sunblock use is essential to maintaining a good and even complexion.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with the Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). Information on PDS is at www.pds.org.ph. Questions or concerns regarding the skin may be sent by text to 0932 857 7070 or emailed to [email protected]; or coursed thru The Freeman – (032) 2531276, or thru PSH – (032) 2338620 and 2325929. Inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.