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HIGH-TECH TREATMENTS
283
January14
Treating Acne Scars
Q&A with Dr Andrew Khoo
Q Why is acne a particular problem
in Singapore?
Our warm and humid environment is part
of the reason. Besides the hormones
associated with puberty, the causes of acne
include a change in environment, stress
and the menstrual cycle.
Q What is your first consideration?
Our initial approach is always to bring the
acne under control. We do this with a mix
of keratolytic facial cleansers, oil-control
lotions including Epiduo and local antibiotic
therapy. In severe cases, oral medication
such as Ro-Accutane may be required.
Q How do you treat acne scars?
Fine scars
are best treated with a
combination of Erbium laser resurfacing
and Fraxel fractional laser therapy. The
Erbium micro laser peel is best described
as the gradual removal of surface
irregularities, much like sanding a piece of
wood with fine grade sandpaper. Its beauty
is that the amount of skin removed can be
adjusted down to 5-micron increments. This
allows the therapy to be done accurately
and safely. The Fraxel is a laser that treats
the deepest areas of the skin by drilling tiny
pores into the skin. This stimulates the skin
to produce new collagen to fill up the acne
scars from below.
Broad-based scars
, on the other hand,
are treated with subcision. This is a process
where the skin is detached from underlying
scar and tissue filler is used to elevate the
scar. Individual scars can also be excised
and sutured so that the resulting linear
scars are hidden in natural lines.
Aesthetic & Reconstructive Centre
3 Mount Elizabeth Road
#13-08 Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
6733 3712