ASK A DERMATOLOGIST

I’m a teenager suffering from redness on my cheeks for several years now. I experience a burning sensation for no apparent reason. Could it be rosacea?

Making an absolutely correct diagnosis based merely on your description of skin lesions will be an uphill task for any dermatologist. Your skin complaints are definitely of an inflammatory origin. Skin inflammatory disorders can be of a wide range but clinically presenting with a surprising similarity, therefore making the diagnosis much more difficult. Rosacea is unlikely because of your age – this particular condition usually affects people in their mid-30s and above. Our suspected diagnosis of your skin problem is likely to be an eczema. Atopic dermatitis is relatively more common type of eczema seen in people your age. Allergic contact dermatitis to some of the toiletries or body creams or lotions including moisturisers and even sunscreens will also need to be ruled out. Lastly, you should also be screened for any of the systemic autoimmune connective tissue disorders and some other skin involving rare ‘syndromes’ which can also be associated with a ‘red face’. For the time being, you can try using one per cent hydrocortisone topical cream or ointment for one to two weeks. We strongly recommend an avoidance to sun exposure as well as not to use any of the previous skin care products under your use.

I am a 26-year-old woman and have been getting laser body hair removal treatment for the last one year. However, the hair growth has not yet decreased. Please help!

It’s quite unfortunate that in spite of going through multiple sessions of hair removal treatments, you have failed to see any reduction in your body hair. There could be one or all of the following factors involved in this treatment failure. The first factor to consider is selection of a laser that is unsuitable for your body hair type. Particular body hair types in individuals with different racial backgrounds require careful laser selection with specific wavelengths. We also suspect that you might have an underlying hormonal abnormality that could have been consistently stimulating body hair growth. A third factor is a condition called paradoxical hypertrichosis after laser therapy, which could simply be defined as a reactive hair growth in neighbouring areas adjacent to the laser-treated areas. Seek a second professional opinion at a dermatology centre with an established reputation. The doctor will need to investigate you for underlying hormonal abnormalities and treat you through a smartly designed treatment plan keeping all of the above factors in mind.

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