Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. As with all skin cancer, melanoma develops due to genetic mutations of the DNA (either by inheritance or UV radiation). Risk factors for the development of melanoma include: skin pigmentation (fair-skinned individuals are at a higher risk), childhood exposure to sunlight, number of peeling/blistering sunburns in… Read More
With my skin obsessions, it’s no wonder that I get a little excited when new fads and crazes in skin care appear. The newest addition to my ever-growing collection is a konjac cleansing sponge. Now I don’t know about you, but the only time I ever hear of konjac is when I go to hotpot… Read More
Itch is probably the most frequently experienced sensation within a human lifetime. I, for one, know I experience it on a regular basis whether it is a bug-bite, contact dermatitis (exposure to metal, plant-based chemicals such as urishiol from poison ivy/oak/sumac), sunburn, or eczema. For many patients, itch may be a sign of a more… Read More
Thanks to celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Emma Stone, freckles are making a comeback. Even with this great news, my facial freckles are somewhat of a sore point with me, when it comes to my overall complexion and appearance. Though my family tried to alleviate my freckle misgivings by telling me, “They’re cute,” or, “They’ll… Read More
I flush really easily, including “blushing because I feel I’m blushing already” (once I start, it’s a downward spiral). This leads to unfortunate experiences like my thesis defense, in which I was an embarrassing shade of hot pink for the entire period. Thankfully, I know this is not an affliction I suffer alone. Everyone blushes,… Read More
My mother is obsessed with skin. After some twenty-odd years of her influence, it is no wonder that I too am obsessed with skin. For years of my life, I have listened to her dos and don’ts of skincare including the Chinese housewives’ tales of what is good for your skin or what is not… Read More
I am probably the first person to admit I may have some obsessive compulsive tendencies, especially when it comes to popping things. As a child, I had the disturbing habit of popping all the un-bloomed fuchsia blossoms on the plants in the garden (I think I have finally resolved this issue). But even now, if… Read More
As anybody who has walked down any drugstore lotion and cream aisle, there is an awful lot of aloe being thrown about – aloe in body wash, aloe in skin care products, aloe in healing ointments, aloe in lip balm, and the list goes on. So what is aloe, why is it special, and should… Read More
For weeks now, I have been harping on the devastating effects of sunshine – sunburns, skin aging, skin cancer. But, just like any other entity, there are two sides to sunshine. Yes, we all know the bad things that can happen to us if we bake in the sun (or at least we should now… Read More
I’m sure we all grew up listening to our mothers tell us not to eat deep-fried foods because it was going to make our skin more oily, give us more acne, and just in general ruin our complexion. I can attest to the fact that I’m just as guilty as the next person when it… Read More
