Facial Wellness Programmes

From school-going adolescents to young working adults, factors such as hormonal changes, increased outdoor activities, as well as lack of appropriate skin care can result in physical skin impairment.  The problems include having oily complexions, excessive blackhead formation and acne outbreaks.  In an appearance-conscious society, peer pressure to have a pleasant disposition could result in self-esteem issues.

Proper skin care education is necessary to navigate the many challenges on maintaining good skin hygiene, along with the appropriate application of creams and lotions. Treatments are sometimes necessary to control skin sebum production as well as to reduce inflammation.

At some time in our lives, more than 85 per cent of us are affected by acne.  Acne is characterized by non-inflammatory follicular papules – otherwise known as the dreaded “blackheads” and “whiteheads”; and by inflammatory or reddish papules, pustules and nodules in its more severe forms.  It occurs on the areas of skin with the densest population of oil glands, such as the face, the upper part of the chest and the back.  In addition to causing physical impairment, acne can cause physical pain and psycho-social suffering.  This may result in diminished self-esteem and affect one’s social and professional life.

Simple acne ailments can be managed with medicated creams and improvement of one’s skin care regimen. Infected acne spots are best treated with antibiotics and may need to be drained surgically to prevent scar formation. Unsightly mature acne scars can be improved with LASERs or surgical intervention.

Genetic factors and ultraviolet solar radiation are the main contributing factors to pigmentation problems on Asiatic skin.  These include the common post-inflammatory or traumatic wound stains, freckles, sunspots, and the dreaded “melasma” or “mask of pregnancy”.  Some pigmentation conditions recur or persist despite intervention and may worsen during pregnancy.

Active prevention is better than cure in many instances.  Sunscreens are the most cost-effective means to control and reduce melanin pigment formation within many of these lesions.  Most pigments can be treated with pharmaceutical creams but several conditions are best tackled with peels, light therapy and LASER therapies.

Pregnancy can wreak havoc on the skin of many mothers because of a surge in estrogen hormonal levels.  Sebum production from the skin is increased, resulting in oily complexions and pimple outbreaks.  The skin also pigments easily and can cause existing freckles to darken and moles to be enlarged.  Also, water retention can result in puffy eye bags and bloated facial skin.

Pregnant and lactating mothers are often reluctant to treat their skin instead they use over-the-counter products or undergo treatments by non-medical professionals for fear of harming their babies.  However, there are medicinal products and treatments safe for use during pregnancy and lactation.  Performed by trained professionals, many of the skin ailments that plagued mothers can be alleviated.

As one ages, environmental factors, primarily sun exposure, can cause progressive and cumulative damage to the skin due to the formation of “free radicals”.  Manifestations of skin damage include the appearances of pigmentations, broken veins, skin “bumps”, wrinkles and sagging facial skin.

Rather than indulge in expensive and invasive surgical procedures, medical technology and knowledge has advanced itself to be able to achieve reliable and excellent results for the purpose of skin rejuvenation.  Regular skin maintenance avoids many of the ailments that distress ageing individuals.