Stress

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have not been sleeping well lately.  I noticed that my skin has become dull, oily and even flaky.  I know this is probably stress-related. Any serums or creams that you can recommend to make my skin not look stressful?

Timmy

Dear Timmy,

Lack of sleep, mental and emotional stress, and tiredness can definitely reflect on your skin. Breakouts, flaking, redness and oiliness can be some of many manifestations. Apart from trying to catch up on sleep and eating well-balanced meals, other tricks can be used.  If the skin is not inflamed (no breakouts), getting a good facial or glycolic peels can be helpful.  Dead and dull skin can be corrected and glowing skin reveal.

If you are getting reddish and scaling skin, you might have seborrheic dermatitis.  This is a condition triggered by weather changes and stress. Applying a mild anti-inflammatory cream coupled with anti-fungal cream can do wonders for your skin. Using abrasive scrubs or toners will only worsen seborrheic dermatitis.

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Dear Dr. Jen,

My dad has weird bumps on his face. He refuses to go to the doctor.  I have been trying to check the internet for similar-looking growths and have come up with several confusing options: skin cancer, dermatosis papullosa nigricans and seborrehic keratosis. What is the most distinguishing factor of skin cancer?  Is there a cream that can be applied to limit the growth?

Arie

Dear Arie,

Dermatosis papulosa nigricans are simply skin tags, and are cauterized or snipped off. Seborrheic keratosis are those brown, raised spots that elderly people often get, with a “stuck on” appearance.  These are also cauterized or lasered off.

More worrisome are “weird growths.”  I am guessing that your dad does not have the usual warts or moles. Bumps that make you concerned about cancer have a few characteristics that need mentioning.  Irregularity in shape, varying shades of tan/brown in one lesion, rapid growth in a few months, bleeding and itchiness are the more important clues about cancerous growths.

If it is physically challenging to bring your father to a PDS dermatologist, the next best thing is to take several pictures of the lesions (in good lighting) and bring the photo to your doctor. PDS-trained dermatologists have an eye for identifying the cancerous-looking growths.  However, there is no one sure feature that determines malignancy.  The most accurate way to tell is still to do a tiny biopsy if the growth is indeed suspicious and have it checked under the microscope by a dermatopathologist.

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.