News - Raffles Medical Group

AESTHETIC
Skin
For
By Dr Yeak Hwee Lee, Senior Family Physician and Aesthetics Practitioner,
Raffles Medical Clinics
Today’s women are amazing. Despite having to straddle
the stresses of work and family, they somehow manage
(and are expected) to look like a superstar.
The most disturbing skin problem in tropical Singapore is
probably acne and acne scarring. It causes such distress
that many suffer from psychological issues (such as poor
self-image) as a result of it.
The more mature women have other grouses, primarily ageing
skin–wrinkling, pigmentation (often aggravated by solar
damage), sagging and loss of youthful glow and firmness
of skin. The quest to restore skin to its youthful vitality has
spawned the multimillion-dollar cosmetic industry.
Pregnant ladies have their own unique set of problems.
Though some ladies experience the rosy glow of pregnancy,
most expectant mothers have to put up with dark blotches
on the skin, hair growth in unusual areas, thinning hair on
their head, rashes, acne, stretch marks, brittle or splitting
nails, and worsening of existing skin conditions.
As one ages, the risk of skin injury is increased as the skin
is thinner, more fragile and the protective subcutaneous
fat layer is lost. In addition, one’s ability to sense touch,
pressure, vibration, heat and cold may be reduced. All
these increase the risks of injury. Rubbing or pulling on
the skin can cause skin tears. Fragile blood vessels are
easily broken. Bruises, flat collections of blood, and raised
collections of blood may form after even a minor injury.
This is most easily seen on the outside surface of the
forearms, but can occur anywhere on the body. Skin changes
and loss of subcutaneous fat, combined with a tendency to
be less active, as well as some nutritional deficiencies and
other illnesses contribute to pressure ulcers.
Ageing skin repairs itself more slowly than younger skin.
Wound healing may be up to four times slower. This
contributes to pressure ulcers and infections. Diabetes,
blood vessel changes, lowered immunity, and similar
factors also affect healing.
Although it is not possible to turn back the hands of
time, its effects can be slowed down and improved with
the arsenal of procedures and techniques available.
Anti-ageing creams such as retinols and alpha
hydroxyacids and topical product like vitamin C and
vitamin E serums are usually used to treat the milder
symptoms of ageing such as damage to the skin’s
uppermost layers. Sun avoidance by using sunscreens
and other physical means such as hats and visors will
help to prevent solar ageing.
For more advanced signs of ageing and sun-damage,
your dermatologist will choose the surgical method or
combination of methods best suited to your individual
skin condition. Here are some treatments that would
refine your appearance and make your skin look and feel
healthy and attractive.
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Raffles HealthNews | Issue 4/2006