REVIEW: 2nd Sessiong Brightening Laser @ DRX Clinic

~AG~

It has been two weeks since my first brightening laser treatment, time to report on my second laser session which happened yesterday. I asked the nurse whether my back acne/pigmentation had improved, and she said they took a before picture so I could compare. Before the treatment, I also asked the doctor whether the pigmentation has reduced. Dr. Tsu said surprisingly my skin condition on my back improved. He remembered the pigmentation was more brown previously. Now it has been significantly lightened. I was so HAPPY to hear that! :) 

I was actually not expecting visible result from the first brightening laser session. My skin tends to take a while to recover from acne or scarring. However, I was at the point of desperation to improve my back acne/pigmentation. On top of the brightening laser treatment, I have also been diligently applying the Lightener cream twice a day on the back area. The dual effect of brightening laser treatment and topical cream has helped lightened the pigmentation on my back area. It is worth every single cent spent on the treatment.


The brightening laser treatment breaks down the dark pigmentation to make the skin appear brighter. Dr. Tsu said the effects of the brightening laser is not the same for everyone. It depends on your skin condition. I would be going in for another brightening laser treatment in two weeks. That is the last one before the big day. Hope it makes a significant difference. Wish me luck!

REVIEW: Nexcare Acne Dressing

~AG~

Bought this Nexcare Acne Dressing for THB 95 (S$3.70) at Boots Pharmacy in Bangkok. While in Bangkok, I was experiencing a cystic acne on my chin. The acne was so red and painful, even after applying my DRX Clinic Acne Spot Solution for two days. Acne Spot Lotion usually works well on emerging pimple, but it did not help in this case. On the last day in Bangkok, I was browsing through Boots Pharmacy and decided to buy this Nexcare Acne Dressing. This box comes with two 16-patches strips. The patches come in two sizes: 0.8 (small) and 1.2 (medium). There are 12 small patches and 6 medium patches in each strip. 

The exterior packaging

How one strip looks like. It comes with 6 medium and 12 small patches.

Nexcare Acne Patch works like a sponge to absorb pus and oil from acne blemishes. The cover turns white when all the oil has been absorbed, giving you a visible sign that it is working. It is drug-free, non-drying way to absorb oil from clogged pores. They act as protective cover, reducing the urge to squeeze or pick at a blemish. They are breathable and comfortable to wear. 

What can I say about Nexcare Acne Dressing?

- Even though it is translucent, the patch has a yellow tinge and is rather thick; and therefore quite visible. If you are self-conscious, you definitely would not wear it in the daytime. 

- I tried using it to bed, and it stayed on well throughout the night. The adhesiveness is good! I do not use any other acne treatment when wearing Nexcare Acne Dressing. 

- The patch becomes cloudy in the morning as it absorbs the oil and pus from the acne, as evidenced below. 

 The morning after, you can see a yellow residue from the whitehead of the pimple

Used acne patch which have turned cloudy

- Nexcare Acne Dressing does not provide immediate results. It does not noticeably reduce the size of acne or dries up whitehead pimples. 

- It does not dry out the skin, unlike harsh acne treatment such as Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. 

- For less than S$4, I think Nexcare Acne Dressing is handy to have. It is especially good if you are travelling to countries with polluted conditions. The patch works as a protective cover from environmental factors. I would repurchase this product because it works, and is easy on the pockets. 

REVIEW: DRX Clinic Milia Removal

~AG~

Before

After bearing with obvious milia that appeared under my eyes a year ago, I decided to toughen up and undergo milia removal. During my previous appointment with Dr. Tsu, he recommended electrocautery to safely removal the milia. The first question I asked was whether it was painful. He then responded that the pain is minimal but also informed me about the procedure. Firstly, he said even with electrocautery, the milia might re-appear. Secondly, he said there are risks of infection because the skin is being cut. Thirdly, he said they might be scars after the procedure. Lastly, he mentioned that there will be some downtime as there will be scabs on the electrocautery area.

Also referred to as thermal cautery, electrocautery is a safe procedure in which a direct current is passed through a resistant metal wire electrode that generates heat. The heated electrode is then applied to the skin tissue to achieve varying degrees of skin tissue ablation, thereby removing the oil seed son the skin. With merely a week’s downtime, the process is fast, safe and painless, and with our doctors personally administering the treatment, you‘re sure to be in good hands.  http://www.drx-group.com/drx-problem/drx-clinic/

Electrocautery process:

1.Facial cleansing by the therapist

2. She then applied numbing cream, and put saran wrap over the applied area

3. Waited for an hour for the numbing cream to work its effects

4. Therapist wiped off numbing cream 

5. Zapping of milia by Dr. Tsu

On areas where numbing cream was applied, there were only a slight sensation. Those areas that were not graced with numbing cream, it was painful! Especially when he was removing the milia on my under eye area, I started tearing up. On a pain scale of 0-10, 10 being the worst pain of my life, the electrocautery process was a 7. I will definitely hesitate from undergoing electrocautery again.

I have low pain tolerance! It was more painful than an ant's bite. It was like a burning pain. You could smell the burnt effects. It took Dr.Tsu about 30 minutes for my forehead and under eyes area.

At the end of the procedure, he showed me a mirror so that I can check on myself and inform him if he had missed any milia. After seeing the mirror, I was shock to see the aftereffects of electrocautery. My skin was red and there were "donut holes" where the zapping were done.

6. Dr. Tsu generously applied antibiotic onto those effected areas. He mentioned that I should come for a follow-up in six weeks, during that visit, he will examine and remove any recurring milia.

After the procedure, my skin was significantly red and there were "donut holes" on my effected areas. After about two hours, the redness subsided and the donut holes became scabs. The areas where the electrocautery were performed were tender, I had to be extra gentle when washing my face. There was a stinging sensation when I washed my face, similar sensation as to when you are cleaning a wound.

Yes, there is definitely downtime. The day after, my forehead looked as though it has been attacked with numerous mosquito bites. It does make me self-conscious. It looks scary so I try not to focus on in when I look at the mirror. With that being said, I did go to work the day after. Dr. Tsu mentioned that it will take 2-3 days for the scab to fall off.  

It has been six days since the electrocautery procedure. The scabs on my forehead has fallen off and there are little to no scarring. However, there are still some scabs on my under eyes. Though, it is not as red anymore.