Cheeks

Dear Dr. Jen,

I noticed my cheeks looking flat and deflated.  It makes me look old.  What is the best cream or maintenance for this? I am still in my 40s and I am not ready for any surgery.

Ayee

Dear Ayee,

As we mature, we also tend to lose the fats on our face.  This is especially obvious under the eye, on the cheeks and the forehead. If your face is angular and bony, this becomes more prominent too.  Whereas fillers or fat transplant are wonderful non-invasive procedural option at this point, there are creams that can help you too.

A favorite of most dermatologists is the prescription of retinol or tretinoin and vitamin C serums.  This will help with collagen remodeling, lighten sunspots, and erase fine lines.  Oral supplements that contain vitamin C and glucosamine will also enhance formation of collagen and hyaluronic acid. I hope this helps.

Dear Dr. Jen,

Is fungus on the toe nails treatable?  I’ve had fungus on my nails for the longest time and nothing works.

John

Dear John,

Yes, very, very much treatable. Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, will often not respond to creams or ointments since the keratinized nail is very thick.  The fungus is likely to be found not just on the nail, but on the nail bed or the skin around the nails as well. A more reliable treatment for nail fungus will come in oral tablets or medicated nail polish.

Toe nails with fungus take a little longer to respond than finger nails.  It will take about three weeks of oral Itraconazole in total to treat it.  Weekly application of medicated nail polish will also take months to take effect.

Diligence in bringing your own nail apparatus to the salon will help prevent getting nail fungus again.  Infected nail paraphernalia like nippers and clippers are the likely culprits causing the spread of the fungus.

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.