Skin Republic

Dear Dr. Jen,

I had severe allergies last year.  It formed ugly scars.  This was lasered or cauterized (I'm not sure about the difference) by a derma clinic at the mall.  There was some burning of the scar.  It seemed to make my scar uglier.  What can I do about it?  Will further laser cause improvement eventually?

Shels

Dear Shels,

Scars come in different forms.  Not all lasers can treat scars and likewise, not all scars will improve with lasers.  In the same breath, there are specific lasers like (fractional for pitted scars or flashlamp-PDL for keloids) for each type of scar.  Simply burning off the scar with any laser or cautery will create another scar that maybe deeper or uglier than the previous one.

Before any kind of treatment, make sure that the one performing the procedure is a licensed PDS dermatologist.  PDS dermatologists are doctors who undergo at least three years training of all skin pathologies, treatments and side-effects.  This will leave you in safe hands when seeking treatment.  Always ask questions and do your research before committing to a procedure.  And don't forget to ask if the machine being used is FDA approved.  You can even check this online!  All PDS dermatologists and FDA-approved machines are listed.

That being said, there are other options for your scar.  If the scar is brown, safe bleaching creams are available.  If it is elevated, injecting corticosteroid will improve it.  If the scar is white, there are pigmenting creams that can help encourage pigment formation.  Although in some cases laser can be good, it is not necessarily the answer to all types of scar treatment.

Dear Dr. Jen,

I have itching on my scalp and on my neck for a few months.  My doctor has given me some antihistamines which has given me some reprieve.  However, when I stop taking my medicine, the itching immediately recurs.  I've been trying to switch shampoos but the itching continues.  I've asked my sister to check me for head lice, and she finds nothing wrong with my hair.  Is it really possible to be allergic to shampoo?  What else can be causing my itching?

Myra

Dear Myra,

Your frustration is understandable but you can definitely be allergic to a myriad of hair products.  There are two kinds of skin reactions, allergic and irritant.  Some products you can be allergic to while some products are simply irritating when used in a stronger concentration.

Shampoos are the most commonly used product on the hair and scalp. Shampoos can be composed of 4 to 20 ingredients and any of these can cause contact dermatitis.  The more common ingredients that are allergenic are: fragrance, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, parabens, isothiazolinone, benzophenones, and iodopropynylbutylcarbamate.

Shampoo testing as well as testing for each ingredient can be possible with results showing you which specific brands and ingredients you will react to.  However, you can also look into hair dye or other salon products (rebond, hot oil) that may cause contact dermatitis on the scalp.  Simple avoidance of the culprit will provide you with relief.  Chemical-free shampoos are now widely available and you can look into different brands.

Dr. Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital (PSH). For information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/. For questions or concerns, please text to: 0932 857 7070; or email to: [email protected]; or call The Freeman: (032) 2531276, or PSH: (032) 233 8620 and 232 5929. Your inquiries will be forwarded to Dr. Tan.