10 Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Your Skin

10 QUESTIONS

FOR YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR SKIN

Our skin is the biggest organ on our body. While we take care of our other organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys, our skin is often neglected, dehydrated and sun-damaged. Here are 10 questions that you would want to ask to help you keep your skin glowing?

QUESTION #1 :
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SKIN TYPES?

There are different ways of looking at this question. We could look at it in terms of how oily the skin is or the chronological age of the person or even the race of the person.

Oil on the skin depends on the distribution and activity of the sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are found in abundance on the face and scalp. They become active during and after puberty, and decrease again as we age. Genes also influence how active the glands are, and so do hormones – male hormones or androgens, which increase sebum production of the sebaceous glands.

So depending on the age, genetic make-up, and underlying hormone profile, as well as local factors like distribution of sebaceous glands on the face, people have dry skin, oily skin or combination skin – oily T-zone, dry cheeks and chin.

Another classification widely used by dermatologists is based on the underlying skin colour and ability to tan or sunburn with sun exposure. One can have Skin Type 1 (fair skin, always burns and never tans) to Skin Type 5 (dark skin, always tans and never burns). This classification is useful in treating pigmentary disorders or facial pigmentation.

QUESTION #2 :
CAN I MAINTAIN A HEALTHY SKIN BY EATING THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOOD?

Good lifestyle habits like a balanced diet, plenty of sleep and fluids, no smoking, protection from the sun and a stress-free lifestyle are important for good skin.

If you have nutritional or vitamin deficiency, you definitely do not have good skin. There is however no evidence that any particular food or vitamins or nutrients are good for the skin. The key is a balanced diet.

QUESTION #3 :
ARE THERE ANY SUPPLEMENTS THAT I CAN TAKE TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF MY SKIN?

As long as you have enough of nutrients, eating more does not make it any better.

If you are lacking in vitamins, your skin may be dry, discoloured and fragile. It does not mean that if you consume more vitamins, your skin will become beautiful. But problems like dry skin and discoloured skin do have causes other than lack of certain foods.

QUESTION #4 :
WHAT ABOUT STAYING AWAY FROM THE SUN? DOESN’T SUNLIGHT PROVIDE THE VITAMIN D THAT WE NEED?

Sunlight is one of the major factors in skin aging and in susceptible individuals, a cause of skin cancer. Sunlight is not the only source of vitamin D.

As long as you maintain a balanced food intake, it is difficult to get vitamin D deficiency.

Even staying indoors or walking under shade in Singapore gives you enough exposure to sunlight indirectly. You do not have to sunbath to have more sun exposure.

QUESTION #5 :
I HAVE SUFFERED FROM ACNE AND PIMPLES AS A TEENAGER AND I WAS TOLD IT WILL PASS AS I AGE. I STILL HAVE THE OCCASSIONAL OUTBREAK? WHY

Adult acne – acne in the late 20s, 30s or even 40s – is not uncommon, especially among females.

Again, this depends on underlying sebaceous glands activity which is genetic, and the influence of the androgens.

QUESTION #6 :
HOW CAN I PREVENT THIS?

Basic things are important:

Good healthy lifestyle – plenty of sleep, fluids and good management of stress
Skin care –use a gentle, non-oily wash, light moisturiser or sunblock with less oil content and oil-free cosmetics. Use only when necessary.
Intervention – despite the above, some people still get acne outbreaks, and will need some anti-acne medication to control the outbreak. See a dermatologist for more detailed advice.

QUESTION #7 :
DOES WASHING MY FACE OFTEN HELP TO PREVENT OILINESS OR DOES IT STIMULATE THE PRODUCTION OF SEBUM?

Face washing does not influence the activity of the sebaceous glands. It simply physically remove the oils on the skin.

A gentle face wash is important for those with oily skin, to allow you to wash your face frequently without causing irritation.

QUESTION #8 :
CAN TREATMENTS SUCH AS THERMAGE OR BOTOX HELP TO KEEP MY SKIN HEALTHY, YOUNG AND SUPPLE?

There are many anti-aging skin applications or procedures, and each of them works in a specific manner to improve a particular component of the skin aging.

Thermage is specifically designed to treat sagging skin, or tissue laxity, and is a non-surgical alternative to facelifts.

Botox is useful for dynamic skin wrinkles and has shown some preliminary evidence of improving overall skin tone.

They are other features of skin aging such as pigmentation and loss of volume, that will not benefit as much from these treatments.

One should have a realistic expectation of how much skin aging can be reversed. Prevention of aging is always easier and better than reversing skin aging.

QUESTION #9 :
HOW CAN I KNOW IF I HAVE SKIN CANCER? WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SKIN CANCER?

There are different types of skin cancers. If you have a skin growth or mole that increases in size, or its characteristics change such as it becomes darker, changes shape, becomes itchy or bleeds, a visit to a dermatologist or doctor is advisable.

Sun exposure is the most important factor in causing skin cancer. Sun protection is a long-term commitment and should start from childhood.

QUESTION #10 :
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE?

For skin cancer, early detection and surgical excision is the treatment of choice.

CAUTION

Are you are new to a particular skin care product?
Always buy a small quantity to try out and test it on a small patch of skin first.
A particular brand may work wonders for your best friend, but have a different result with your skin.
Different people may have different reactions to different products.

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