Dr Georgia Lee, founder and medical director of
TLC Lifestyle Practice answers burning questions by a reader of Simplibeauty, T
Adams:
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| Credit: nenetus/freedigitalphotos.net |
What can I do if a burn mark is seen after
using a skin gadget that treats skin with red light for four minutes on an area?
Cool down the area with cool compress and apply
topical steroid ointment, if it is available. If topical steroid ointment is
not available, try pure aloe vera gel or DrGL Restore Gel Mask as a gel. Continue
using the topical steroidal ointment or a gentle skin soothing gel for a few
days and stop when the redness settles. Treat any post inflammation
hyperpigmentation, if it occurs later. Try products containing vitamin C and
avoid unnecessary unprotected sun exposure. Note that hyperpigmentation can happen
to anyone who is susceptible; especially in Asian and people of colour. For
those who fall into this category, even superficial burns can lead to
hyperpigmentation.
Seek medical help if needed.
However, if the burn has open wound or
abrasion, apply cold compress with clean sterile gauze if available, apply
antibiotic ointment and seek medical help early.
Four things
to note when using anti-ageing gadgets using red light:
1 To be on the safe side, first time users
should always do a test area first and wait a few minutes before embarking to
treat the whole face.
2 If glycolic acid
laced products are part of your regular skincare regime, avoid using these
products on the day of the device application. If total avoidance of such skincare
is not practical, reduce the contact time of the device.
3 If you are using strong medical grade acne
medication, avoid areas where it is applied as this can sensitise the skin and
cause it to be more susceptible to burns. 4 In areas with hyperpigmentation or
redness, the area in contact with the device may reach a higher temperature
faster and cause the area to be more susceptible to burns.
Do you have UV allergy?
If you have UV
allergy, you would usually find hives and rashes after sun exposure. In this
case, note that skin may have lower heat tolerance and thus have a higher risk
of burns.
For skin that has
suffered a burn, switch to a gentler skincare as most skincare are designed for
intact skin and applying it to the exposed inner skin layer can irritate and
potentially sensitise the skin to the same product in future. Try DRGL Cleanser
Sensitive and DRGL Restore Gel Mask.
Having mentioned that, Dr Lee is quick to add
that it is best to avoid any skincare over the burn area, especially if there
is an open wound. Even when the skin has healed, avoid using AHA or renewal
antiaging product over the newly healed area as it can still be sensitive and
may slow down the recovery phase. If you have sensitive skin and the area affected
is small, splashing water over that the affected area is enough to cleanse it.
How will gadgets that treat skin with red light
hurt the eyes?
There is no study to
show that red light from such gadgets can cause macular degeneration in the
eyes. That being said, it is best to avoid using it too near to the eyes as the
glare and heat (40°C to 41°C) may increase the risk of cataract over prolonged
period of time. Also the state of heating the eyeball when treating periorbital
area as regular as twice a week may have adverse effect in the long run.
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| Dr Georgia Lee |
TLC Lifestyle Practice is located at 9 Scotts
Road, #11-04/05 Pacific Plaza. S 228210.
Make an appointment at 6462 0083.
Dr Lee’s skincare line is available online at
www.drgl.com.
Simplibeauty Team would like to thank T Adams for writing in. Hope your skin recovers well. Stay youthful always.
Simplibeauty Team would like to thank T Adams for writing in. Hope your skin recovers well. Stay youthful always.
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