Anti Aging Blog

1. Do I still need to use a moisturizer if I have oily skin?  
 
An oily skin can still be dehydrated for various reasons. For example, a person with oily skin may have washed his or her face excessively, resulting in dry and dehydrated skin. However, the person may feel more comfortable with a light moisturizer which also shouldn’t block up the oil glands. 
 
2. What kind of skin care & cosmetics can an acne sufferer use?  
 
An acne sufferer should use light and non-comedogenic skin care and cosmetics. 
 
3. I wash my face several times a day, why do I still get acne?  
 
The formation of acne is not due to dirty skin. It is due to a combination of factors: blockage of oil gland, accumulation of oil gland secretion, excessive bacterial growth within the oil gland and inflammation of the oil gland. Washing of face will help to remove dirt, dust and oil from the skin but does not alter other factors that are important in formation of acne.

4. Does stress cause acne?  
 
Yes, stress may aggravate and precipitate acne. 
 
5. Does diet play a part in causing acne?  
 
Scientifically it is not known that diet causes acne, However, if one repeatedly experiences a flare up of acne after consuming certain food, then it may be a good idea to avoid the food. 
 
6. I have an unsmooth forehead because of several tiny bumps and I am told that they are milia. These milia are also present under my eyes. Is there a way to remove them or can I apply a cream to remove them?  
 
Skin bumps on the forehead and around the eyes could be due to several possibilities, such as milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, seborrhoeic keratoses, syringomas and others. These skin growth usually do not respond to creams treatment and minor skin procedures, such as laser treatment may be more appropriate. You should consult a dermatologist for advice on such treatments.  
 
7. My face is always red and irritated and only the eye area feels alright. Do I suffer from eczema? How can I prevent and cure it?  
 
You probably have sensitive skin that is prone to redness and irritation. Mild skincare products, such as those that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic may be more appropriate as skin care for you. Please consult a dermatologist for assessment of the skin sensitivity. In addition to eczema, it is also possible that the blood vessels on the face are more reactive and tend to flush easily under warm and hot environment. If this is so, good sun protection and avoidance of factors that may induce flushing, such as avoiding hot and spicy food and warm environment may help.
 
8. How can I remove acne scars other than having a laser treatment done?  
 
For acne marks such as brownish pigmentation and redness, intense pulse light may be useful. For the more depressed scars, chemical peeling, surgical scars revision may also help. 
 
9. The red patches/ ‘wounds’ caused by picking on pimples/ bumps on the face do not heal and remain red and irritated. What can I do to reduce the redness and let it heal?  
 
It is important to make sure that the pimples are well treated so as not to create fresh wounds. There are some anti-redness creams which may help and in some instances, intense pulse light therapy will help to reduce the redness as well. 
 
10. I have blemishes caused by acne and pimple scarring,what are the ways to clear away the blemishes on my skin?  
 
The treatment options will depend on the types and nature of acne scars. They can range from injection of medication into the protruding scars, creams to lighten the marks, surgery to revise the scars and lasers to smoothen the scars. It will be better for you to consult a doctor for that.

I’ve just spent the whole of today slogging over the second issue of Aesthetic & Beauty Guide (ABG) due out January 2011 and I’m super excited about what you will find inside.

Look out for exciting features like:

- Top 10 Aesthetic Treatments & Plastic Surgeries

- Acne & Acne Scars Special

- Hair Removal Special

- Slimming & Weight Loss Special

- The new frontier in skincare – cosmeceuticals and how they can help speed up results

- The high-tech facials that are keeping celebs smooth and radiant

- The super-efficient workout that is keeping stars like Madonna and Kylie svelte

And so much more…

Aesthetics & Beauty Guide (ABG) is the first aesthetics magazine from Singapore to bridge the information gap between medical professionals and the layman. In every issue, you will find detailed treatment reviews , the lowdown on the latest aesthetic treatments available and profiles of qualified medical professionals – basically, your go-to guide for all things aesthetics.

I started ReviewAntiAging.com last year in my personal pursuit to look for the best aesthetic treatments for myself. My partnership with ABG has allowed me to share my vast experience with a wider pool of women (and men!).  In the name of “work”, I’ve reviewed almost 20 treatments and looking at my skin now – smooth, radiant and taut, I’m definitely a big believer that aesthetic treatments can help you get better skin and maintain your complexion for many years to come.

In this inaugural issue of ABG, you’ll get a crash course in Aesthetics 101, reviews of the latest and most effective aesthetic treatments, hear from Dr Georgia Lee as she talks about her new skincare range, get all your acne questions answered by renown dermatologist, Dr Joyce Lim, get the skinny on the newest slimming treatments to get rid of your wobbly bits, and many more health and beauty tips.

ABG is available at all major newstands and bookstores, get your copy before it’s sold out (I hear that Kino and Borders have had to replenish and copies are being stolen from doctors’ clinics)!

I often hear from my readers that they think that aesthetic treatments are too expensive or only relegated to tai-tais. That is just a myth as prices are really competitive now (check out this amazing promotion and my review!) and people from all walks of life are discovering the benefits of aesthetic treatments (look out for my interview next Friday in IS magazine!).

Shirleen Ho

One example is Shirleen Ho, a digital traffic manager and beauty blogger at Womenlovebeauty.com who has been doing aesthetic treatments for the last eight years. Shirleen is also 42 years old! Doesn’t she look much younger? Aesthetic treatments must really be working well for her! Here, she shares her experiences with her aesthetic treatments:

1. When did you start doing aesthetic treatments?

- Eight years ago, in my 30s.

2. What did you do and were you happy with the results?

- I started with microdermabrasion and IPL and were happy with both. This combination treatment made my skin glow.

3. What treatments have you done so far?

- Other than the two above, I have done Titan, Thermage, Fraxel (only eye areas), Pixel, Pigment laser (on cheeks), CO2 laser (only nasolabial fold), Radio Frequency, Botox (on my chin, forehead & brows) and Fillers.

4. Favourite treatment? Least favourite treatment? Why?

- Favourite treatment is probably IPL as I had great results. Least favourite – Pixel laser as I didn’t see any results and Botox on the chin area for face slimming. There was no different before and after the treatment.

5. Advice for women who are thinking of trying aesthetic treatments?

- Do your homework. First, identify what is your skin concern, find out what the various treatments available are, do research on reviews of these treatments then select the ideal doctor to perform the treatment.

Celebrate National Day and womanhood at the same time with this promotion by TOUCHE™ Elite via their Facebook Fanpage, Being WOMAN. Simply click on this link here and get started!

Dr Woffles Wu & me

It’s not every day that you get an invitation to have a private tete-a-tete with Singapore’s most famous doctor, so when fellow blogger, Shirleen, asked if I wanted to have dinner with Dr Woffles Wu at his home, I jumped at the opportunity.

As usual, I was super early and arrived at his modest but very cosy home, catching Dr Wu under the table, trying to work the steamboat pot. All my nervousness about meeting this famous plastic surgeon disappeared when I saw that he was  just a regular guy, trying to make sense of electronic appliances. As I am not exactly electronic-savvy, I wandered to his garden to admire his plants, cockatoo and two cats. Dr Wu actually lives in a separate bungalow at the back of his garden with his wife and two kids – a boy aged 10 and a girl, six. His mum, aunt and two maids live in the house in front which is also a communal gathering place for dinners and family bonding sessions.

Check out all that food!

As the other bloggers arrived, we were led to a huge feast of chicken rice, braised pork, vegetables and steamboat, as well as bottles of wine and champagne. After the usual photo-taking (what do you expect, we are bloggers after all!), everyone sat down and tucked in.

Dr Woffles Wu & bloggers

It’s easy to see why Dr Wu is such a media darling as he is an amicable and very humourous man who entertained us for five hours in a wide range of topics ranging from aesthetic treatments (“It’s aesthetic not aesthetics, just like I’m a plastic surgeon, not a plastics surgeon!” says the good doctor) to transgender procedures and iPhone apps. He answered all our questions eloquently, with his slight British accent, which kinda reminded me of the way MM Lee speaks. I learnt alot during our session, fascinated in particular with The Golden Ratio theory (go Google it!) and his take on the various aesthetic procedures available.

Dr Wu calls himself “old-fashioned” when it comes to advertising, preferring to let his work speak for himself. However, he is, in no way, unsavvy at marketing himself. This dinner is proof – even though it was a casual setting with no agenda, everyone got to know him on a deeper level – as a world-renowned doctor who jets around the world giving lectures, a caring son, husband and father, and a great dinner conversationalist. Guess who I’ll go to when I need any *ahem* maintenance? Dr Woffles Wu, of course!

Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment

I got a few of my blogger friends some aesthetic treats in the last two weeks. They reviewed a range of aesthetic skin treatments from HealthTrends and HealthTrends was kind enough to offer crazy discounts for readers of their blogs.

What they tried:

1. Acne Scar reduction by Mosaic eCO2 fractional laser. This is great for reducing acne scars and costs $1200 per treatment.
 
2. Skin Rejuvenation and removal of pigmentation by USA Medlite C6 Laser. Self-explanatory and costs $320 per session.
 
3. Rejuvenating Peel by TCA. This costs $280 per treatment and is great for skin rejuvenation and pigmentation.

Being the nice person that I am (ahem!), I thought I’d point you in the right directions so that you can get to try these skin treatments at a great discount too. Personally, I’ve tried the CO2 fractional laser and it was very effective in rejuvenating skin but it is a strong laser so expect some downtime. Here’s my review:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/fractional-co2-laser-treatment.html

Below are the links to the blogger reviews and follow the instructions to redeem your discount. Christmas just came early, enjoy and don’t forget to thank me for your great skin

Tiphanie: http://sassyd0ll.livejournal.com/174001.html

X-wen: http://www.fash-eccentric.com/2010/07/review-skin-rejuvenation-and-removal-of-pigmentation-by-usa-medlite-c6-laser-at-healthtrends-wellness-clinic/

Sara: http://icyabstract.onsugar.com/Part-1-Aesthetic-Beauty-Treatment-HealthTrends-Wellness-Clinic-9199538

DNA-RNA Platinum NanoPLUS Treatment

Platinum and silver are used for jewellery but do you know that these precious metals contain anti-bacterial and antioxidants that can be used to achieve exceptional results in skin rejuvenation?

Platinum helps lock in skin moisture while enhancing skin self-defense function. Silver, an anti-bacteria agent used by NASA as a preservative of drinking water, can enhance skin immune system, boost blood circulation, skin metabolism and prevent skin degradation.   

I got a chance to experience this outstanding treatment at TOUCHE™ Elite, and now you can get a chance to try this amazing facial valued at $600 for only $210! Read my review here and then follow the instructions there:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/dna-rna-platinum-nanoplus-anti-aging-treatment.html

Today’s post is going to be different as I am not going to talk about beauty treatments. Instead, I am going to share with you another method of staying and looking young – do fun and exciting things that make you happy!

I’ve recently started gymnastics class and can feel myself growing younger after every class! Each class is a rollicking good time set in a giant playground replete with every child’s fantasy – beams, trampoline and lots of big, padded things all designed for one thing – FUN!

All thoughts and worries fly out of my head as soon as class starts as I have to concentrate 110% on the trainer’s instructions as he/she guides us through cartwheels, forward rolls, back flips, trampoline and balancing beam tricks as well as an assortment of super-intensive conditioning exercises.

I had to get over my initial fear of breaking my limbs or twisting my neck, and just go for it, trusting my body and mind to coordinate to achieve its goal.  The feeling I get from pulling off a new gym stunt is nothing short of exhilarating! It’s a natural high – endorphins flood my body, my face glows and my eyes are shining. Now, who needs creme de la mer?

True, expensive creams and aesthetic treatments can help you achieve great skin. But what is great skin if your eyes are dead and you have no zest for life? So, go ahead and sign up for that cooking class, Spanish lesson or martial arts course you’ve been eyeing (next up on my agenda!). The fountain of youth is within you –  you just have to find the key to unlock it!

*BTW, have you seen my top 5 beauty must-haves? Check it out here: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/

Aesthetics & Beauty Guide

May was an especially stressful month for me as I had to complete both the Aesthetics magazine and my book concurrently, on top of my social media consultancy business. As a result, I was high-strung and bit off the heads of poor aunties who dared stray into my queue. Not something I want to repeat soon.

To ensure that history does not repeat itself, I have started thinking about the topics I’ll want to feature for the January issue of Aesthetics & Beauty Guide. Here are some I’m keen on:

1. Rise of Medical Spas

2. Breasts and buttocks fillers

3. Laser hair removal special

4. Wellness: Detox retreats/gyrotonic exercise

5. Cosmeceutical skincare

6. Reviews: whitening, eyebag treatments – suggestions from friends

What about you? Are there any aesthetic/beauty/wellness topics you want me to cover?