dermatology

Milia are small, raised, white bumps on the skin, typically appear around the cheeks, nose, eyelids and forehead. They are extremely common and they can affect people of any age including newborn babies.

Why do I get them?

Molluscum contagiosum is a common condition where small wart looking bumps (mollusca) appear on the skin. It is caused by a pox virus that affects both children and adults.

How do I get it?

This virus can be passed on by skin-to-skin contact.

You can be infected by touching things that have been contaminated by the virus, for example, sharing of towels with someone who has molluscum contagiosum.

Skin tags are small flesh-coloured skin growths that hang off the skin. They can appear on any part of the surface of the body, most commonly on the neck, eyelids, armpits, groin folds and under breasts. They are so common that almost everyone will develop a skin tag at some point of their lives. Sometimes, they can be mistaken for warts because of their similar appearance.

Why do I get it?

It is in your gene. Some people are more prone to developing skin tags.

I have been asked this question a few times. Trust me, it is not an easy question to answer. But I am not surprised why people asked this question. With our advanced technology and emerging new techniques and skills in the field of skin and aesthetic medicine, achieving a desired look has never been easier. More and more people are aware of the things they can do to look better. Information can be obtained easily and for free via internet, social media and blogs.

A lot of people ask me this question: Does higher SPF mean better skin protection?

We talked about eczema/dermatitis in another article. In this article, I am going to focus on contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is one of the most common skin problems in Singapore. It is a rash caused by your skin reacting to a substance it has come into contact with. We have patients coming in every day with red, itchy and irritating rashes that appear within hours.

The two types of contact dermatitis are:

The terms eczema and dermatitis mean much the same. It basically refers to inflammation of the skin.

Eczema is one of the commonest causes of dry, sensitive skin in Singapore regardless of age group. It causes red, itchy skin which may also blister. It affects up to 10% of people at some time in their life. Without proper treatment, it can cause a lot of psychological and social distress.

There are two main types of eczema/dermatitis:

1) Atopic eczema

Fungal skin infections are common.  Sometimes, they are not easy to get rid of completely. Prevention is the key!

These are the 6 ways to prevent fungal skin infections:

1. Appropriate clothing

Wear clothes that fit loosely and made of breathable materials when you go out into a warm and humid environment. Fungi flourish in hot and humid weather. Wearing appropriate clothing keeps your body cool and dry, therefore preventing fungal skin infections.

Fungal skin infections are extremely common in Singapore due to the warm and humid climate. They are easily misdiagnosed and mistreated. They can cause a lot of frustrations and embarrassment due to their appearance. The truth is that fungal skin infections are not difficult to treat. These are the common fungal skin infections we see in Singapore.

Genital warts are small lumps that develop around the genital region and/or around the anus (back passage).

They look like solid blisters or small cauliflowers. They can appear in hands and feet too but these are different types of warts and they are usually harmless. The culprit is a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although there are over 100 types of this virus, most genital warts are caused by types 6 or 11. Warts that appear on hands and feet are caused by different types of HPV.