Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Prive Aesthetics, tells our readers what can be done to treat enlarged pores and uneven skin tone.
"Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Prive Aesthetics, tells our readers what can be done to treat enlarged pores and uneven skin tone."
Are organic skincare products better for skin than “regular” ones? - Meiling Yap
There are currently no standards approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for labelling cosmetic products as organic, nor is there an agreed-upon definition of such skincare by the cosmetics industry. Organic certification refers only to the source of an ingredient, and not its skincare benefits. That said, products labelled as organic or natural may help you if you have a known allergy to a chemical ingredient or preservative.
What’s the best aesthetic treatment for enlarged pores? - Wendy Lieu
WINNING QUESTION›
This reader wins a Prive Skinworks Lightening Wash (150ml) worth $73.80, a Prive Skinworks Lightening Toner (150ml) worth $73.80, a Prive Skinworks Cleansing Milk (150ml) worth $73.80, six Prive Skinworks Whitening Milk Masks worth $96.30 in total, a Prive Skinworks Hydro Complex (30ml) worth $80.30, a Prive Skinworks Triple Action Skin Defence Sunblock SPF50 (50g) worth $62, and a Prive Skinworks Honey Soothing Cream (15ml) worth $42.80.
Ablative laser treatment is a recommended procedure. It uses laser light to penetrate the epidermis, causing the inner walls of the pores to be reduced in size. Botulinum toxin microinjections are another option and are a good companion to laser treatments. Instead of being injected into the facial muscles, as is the norm for wrinkle reduction, these injections target small muscles that affect pore size and sebum production. The botulinum toxin relaxes the small muscles around the pores and decreases oil production in the glands, which in turn reduces clogging of the pores.
My face is naturally a few shades darker than my chest. I’ve tried over-the-counter brightening products, but they don’t seem to be improving the situation. What are my treatment options? - Priya Raj
Uneven skin tone is normal, especially for people who have darker skin. The unevenness most commonly appears in the neck and groin area. Topical treatments containing skin-brightening ingredients like hydroquinone, retinoids, kojic acid and white mulberry extract can be applied to reduce the production of melanin and even out skin tone. You can also use exfoliating creams and masks with ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and lactic acids to speed up cell regeneration.
Clinical light-based treatments, like intense pulsed light or lasers, are also worth exploring. These work by delivering an intense beam of light that specifically targets melanin. The light is absorbed by the melanin and converted into heat, which either disperses the group of melanin cells or destroys the skin cells carrying the pigment molecules. No matter which treatment you choose, it is essential to team it with preventive measures like daily sun protection.
Have a beauty question? E-mail us at magherworld@sph.com.sg. Please include your full name, address and a daytime phone number. The reader whose question is chosen each month stands to win skincare products from Prive Aesthetics.
