Acne scar care

Dear Ms. Tingting,

Is the derma roller good for acne scar? Is there a side effect to this? What is a good treatment for acne scar? I have acne scars but they’re not so deep.

Myleen Lucas

Here’s what I’ve found about the derma roller. It’s a device which naturally increases the levels of collagen and elastin in your skin. Stretch marks, wrinkles, scars, and uneven, pitted skin are all due to lack of collagen — so by using a derma roller to replace the collagen, you can help your skin renew and repair itself.

The rate at which you will get results depends on what condition you are treating and how extensively your skin needs to be remodelled. This process of skin remodelling can continue for literally months after each derma roller treatment. Your skin naturally renews itself every 40 days, so with a little stimulation, changes can be fast.

Using a derma roller is a very simple process and can be carried out in the comforts of your own home so I guess it’s safer, too. You can try it. Anyway, your scars are lighter as you said.

You can find a derma roller at Mercury Drug or derma clinics.

Tingting

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Getting To The Root Of Those Zits

Dear Rissa,

I am a single mother of two boys. My youngest is 18 years old and suffering from acne on his chest. It started when he was 16 years old and I took him to a pedia/derma in a good hospital. I spent a lot on tablets and creams but to no avail. Could you recommend a good dermatologist who is not so expensive? I’m afraid his acne will get worse. I feel pity for my son, please help him.

Marisa  

I’m flattered you trust my judgment. As a mother myself, I understand your concerns. I recommend Dr. Clare Palabyab. She holds clinic at Clinica Manila, 2/F Bldg. A, SM Megamall, (Mondays and Wednesdays 10 a.m.-1p.m. and Saturdays 1-4 p.m.) and at San Antonio Plaza Arcade, Forbes Park Makati, telephone number 815-4838 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays 10 a.m.-12 noon and Fridays 3-5 p.m.). She’s a dermatologist I trust and saves the day for any skin emergencies I may have. She’s very approachable and easy to talk to — really a very warm and loving woman. When she handles your skin, you feel as if nothing can ever be painful. She herself is a mother and she is so patient with clients, both young and old.

To share my own dilemma, I had pimples on my back when I was in college. But before I treated those ugly zits, the very first thing I did was to look for the cause of the problem. Treatment may make those pimples temporarily disappear, but to keep them away forever, you have to go down to the root of it all. In my case, it was stress. All those school projects and papers kept me up studying till early morning. Anxiety can aggravate acne. It seems that stress can increase the production of some hormones which affect the sebaceous glands.

On the other hand, sensitivity to shampoo can also cause an allergy-like reaction to it. My friend’s smooth back was one day filled with unsightly zits. A visit to her dermatologist proved that her new shampoo was the evil culprit. Your son’s chest could possibly be sensitive to certain products, too. A visit to a dermatologist would definitely help clarify the problem on his chest!

For acne-prone skin, it’s really important to keep the skin free from dirt, oil, and grime so that these don’t lead to clogged pores and pimples. Pores become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells. Bacteria can then get trapped inside the pores and multiply, causing swelling and redness — the start of acne. So good, clear skin starts with good cleansing. You should also try the Terra Firma Foaming Facial Cleanser from The Natural Source (stores located at Bonifacio High Street, TriNoma, Glorietta, and SM City Cebu). This cleanser is a good ally in driving pimples away. It’s a gentle cleanser that effectively removes impurities — all the dirt, oil, and bacteria deep inside the pores — without over-drying the skin. It leaves the skin hydrated, soothed, and refreshed.  

Rissa

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Send e-mail to tingtingcojuangco@yahoo.com, ltg@pldtdsl.com, and stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com.