Our skin specialist with extensive international experience can help you manage a wide variety of medical skin conditions involving the skin, hair, or nails. Whether it is a rash, acne problems, suspicious mole or thinning of hair, we strive to offer you the most appropriate and effective treatment, leading to fast and satisfactory results. Your visit to the specialist will start with a thorough consultation and examination, followed by appropriate tests if necessary. The diagnosis will then be explained to you and a personalised management plan determined for each individual patient.
We have a specialist interest in skin cancer screening and mole checks. Dr Ho has had extensive experience with all skin colours, having worked in multi-racial London, Hong Kong and Singapore. She understands how different skin cancers can look different in different skin types and emphasizes the importance of regular full skin screens by a trained professional. Most skin cancers can be cured if caught early. Make an appointment to get your moles checked as early diagnosis is key to the best possible outcome.
We are also highly experienced in scar management. Many people are troubled by unsightly scars but may not be aware that scars from acne, surgery and accidents can be improved. Whether your scar is raised, depressed, discoloured, has an abnormal texture or causes itch and pain, we have management strategies to help with your condition. We use a variety of pulsed dye, pigment and fractional lasers to improve the colour and texture of scars. Sometimes Often combination treatment methods such as laser and steroid injections are used to flatten and lighten keloid scars. We are also able to effectively treat large ear keloids with combination CO2 laser and steroid injections to remodel the ear. Lastly acne is a common condition that often leaves dark marks and scars. These can be effectively treated with different laser modalities and injectables, resulting in a smoother and more even skin tone.
Among the most common skin problems we treat are breakouts, pimples and acne. Even though acne is very common in teenagers, do not be tempted to ignore it and think it is a normal part of growing up. It can sometimes lead to permanent acne scarring if the acne is severe and treatment is delayed. Acne can also have a significant impact on confidence and social wellbeing. While extremely common in teenagers, adult acne is also on the rise and can persist to the ages of 30s or 40s. As acne can leave permanent scars, it is very important to get effective treatment early and we are here to help.
There are many types of acne making an assessment by a trained dermatologist an important first step before appropriate treatment can be prescribed and tailored to your type of acne. There are also other skin conditions that can look remarkably like acne but will not respond to the usual acne medications. Your experienced dermatologist will assess your skin carefully before recommending any treatment.
The excellent news is we now have highly effective treatments for breakouts and acne. Our management strategies follow international guidelines:
Lastly, if you have any remaining marks or scars left by previous acne, we can discuss laser treatments and injectables available to improve the appearance of your skin.
Acne scarring on the face can often be a source of embarrassment and dissatisfaction. Once active acne is controlled, you can embark on a course of acne scar laser treatments to improve the appearance of scars. We use top of the range lasers to effectively target acne scars including:
By utilising a variety of lasers to target different post acne scar issues, we always aim for minimal downtime with maximal effects. Stronger laser treatments may have downtime of around a week and you will be informed of these beforehand. Usually, a course of repeated treatments, at 4-6 weekly intervals, are required to resurface the skin and improve the appearance of acne scars.
It is important that you avoid a tan before or after your laser treatment to minimise the risk of post laser pigmentation. Before performing the treatment for you, your dermatologist will have an honest discussion with you about the predicted outcome, the estimated number of treatments required, and the possible downtime or complications. We are highly focused on the delivery of good outcomes with the lowest possible risk.
Dr Ho has always had a deep interest in the treatment of acne post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and acne scarring, resulting in collaborative studies with eminent Hong Kong dermatologists and the publication of several articles in scientific journals.
Allergies are common. It is a hypersensitive reaction to a substance, medicine, chemical or food, which triggers a range of symptoms including a skin rash, swelling, sneezing and asthma. Allergy testing help determine the substance or allergen that can provoke an allergic reaction in a particular individual.
Common allergens include medicines, chemicals, airborne substances and foods.
Your dermatologist will work with you to determine if there are potential allergens causing your symptoms and arrange for specific tests if appropriate. These may include a skin prick test, patch test or blood test (RAST test).
If an allergy is determined, avoidance will be recommended. Other medications can also be advised to reduce any symptoms.
Corns and calluses are areas of thickening, most commonly found on pressure areas of the feet. They can sometimes cause significant pain, discomfort and even difficulty walking. Corns and calluses are caused by repeated friction or pressure to a specific area.
It is most important to have your corns carefully examined by a trained dermatologist as they can look remarkably like viral warts. Treatment of these two similar looking conditions is quite different. Your dermatologist will assess the affected areas with specialised magnifying devices and pare down the area for accurate diagnosis before suggesting the appropriate treatment.
Important principals for the management of corn would include:
If a wart is discovered, other treatments such a cryotherapy or CO2 laser will be discussed.
A dry and flaky scalp is often due to seborrheic dermatitis, more commonly known as dandruff. This is a chronic recurrent condition that can result in redness, itching and flaking of the scalp. It may also affect the ears, eyebrows and sides of the nose, causing redness and flaking.
The cause of seborrheic dermatitis is thought to be a combination of overproduction of skin oil and irritation from a yeast called Malassezia. Malassezia can be found on most people’s skin but people who suffer from seborrheic dermatitis are especially sensitive to it. Although this is not a condition that poses any health risk, it can be irritating and embarrassing for sufferers.
As seborrheic dermatitis is often a pesky recurrent problem, both an active and maintenance regime will be taught for optimal control.
Eczema or dermatitis is a very common inflamed skin condition that can present as itchy red rashes that are rough and scaly. The rashes may develop blisters or become infected.
The word "atopic" means there is a tendency for excess inflammation in the skin and the linings of the nose and lungs. Eczema tends to run in families with a history of hay fever and asthma.
Atopic dermatitis is common in infants and young children, but may appear at any age.
Exacerbating factors for eczema include heat, sweat, woollen or synthetic fabrics, stress and grass intolerance. Occasionally, eczema may be due to allergies to external causes and your dermatologist will work with you to identify any such causes.
Eczema can often be frustrating to treat with intermittent flares. It is important to keep up with your medication. Stay in contact with your dermatologist and do not get discouraged.
TELECONSULTATION AVAILABLE, PLEASE CALL US OR BOOK ONLINEFacial rashes are common and distressing, causing embarrassment as well as discomfort. Such rashes may present as red itchy rashes, dry scaly patches, blisters, bleeding or hives. They may affect a small area or be spread over the whole face. The possible causes of facial rashes range from mild to extremely serious. It is important to see a trained dermatologist so that a thorough history and examination can be taken to ascertain the cause of your facial rashes. Investigations such as blood tests and a skin biopsy may sometimes be required.
Your dermatologist can counsel you on the best treatment options after a diagnosis has been established. This may be in the form of creams or oral medicines.
TELECONSULTATION AVAILABLE, PLEASE CALL US OR BOOK ONLINEFungal infections can infect the top layer of our skin, hair or nails. They are very common in our tropical climate, commonly affecting the feet, nails, groin and buttock areas. Different types of fungus may be responsible for different presentations and your dermatologist can perform some tests to confirm the diagnosis.
It is also important to keep cool and dry to prevent recurrence of the infection.
Anti-itch tablets may help with any severe itching.
We all experience some hair loss and it is normal to have 50-100 strands of hair fall a day. However if you see bald patches, severe hair thinning or a receding hairline, do see your dermatologist early. There are effective treatments available.
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hairloss or female pattern hairloss) is the most common type of hair loss. It is due to a combination of genetic or hormonal factors. This results in hair follicles become smaller, finer, and reduced in numbers. Male patients will notice gradual thinning at the top of the head and a receding frontal hairline. Women may notice widening of their hair parting or thinning at the crown.
Alopecia areata can result in round bald patches suddenly appearing on the scalp. The hair loss may even affect facial or body hair in severe cases eg loss of eyebrows, eyelashes and armpit hairs.
Factors that influence hair loss include genetic factors, stress, hormonal changes, poor nutrition, infections, certain medications or other medical conditions. Your dermatologist will perform a thorough history and examination, and do the necessary investigations to ascertain the cause.
Hand rashes due to hand eczema is extremely common. Many people start with dry, inflamed, and chapped hands. Further irritation to the skin may occur due to over exposure to soaps, detergents, cleaning agents or chemicals. Some people have a greater tendency to develop hand rashes. They usually have a history of eczema, hay fever or asthma. Others develop hand rashes due to allergies to substances they come into contact with.
Your dermatologist will work with you to uncover and identify the possible causes of your hand rash.
Hand rashes can be stubborn to treat with intermittent flares. It is important to keep up with your medication. Stay in contact with your dermatologist and do not get discouraged.
Severe or excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis. This condition can leave affected areas constantly damp or wet, and can be a source of huge embarrassment to the sufferer. Many patients suffer in silence not knowing that effective treatments are available.
Hyperhidrosis is usually localized to areas with high concentration of sweat glands, commonly the armpits, palms, and soles. Sometimes, it may be generalized, affecting most of the body.
For most people, there may be a family history or they may have suffered from hyperhidrosis since childhood or adolesence. Rarely, it may be due to other underlying medical problems and will require further investigations.
Abnormal nails may be due to simple infections or trauma, or signal more serious underlying health problems.
Do see your dermatologist for a successful diagnosis and treatment.
Nail abnormalities can present as:
The common causes of abnormal nails include fungal or bacterial infections, trauma or skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Rarely it may be due to underlying cancer or other medical problems.
Appropriate tests will be arranged by your dermatologist to ascertain your diagnosis. A biopsy (sample) of the nail matrix and removal of abnormal nails for testing can also be performed if necessary.
Depending on the cause, treatment options may include:
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that appears as red patches of inflamed skin with silvery white scales, often on the elbows, knees, scalp and face. It may also affect the nails and joints.
Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of psoriasis. Triggers can include infections, stress, alcohol, smoking and certain medications.
Psoriasis is not contagious but it can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment for the sufferer.
It is important to be aware that psoriasis can be associated with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Annual health checks are recommended for psoriasis patients.
Rosacea is a common chronic facial skin problem that many patients mistake for acne. It is more common in women than men, and more common in fairer skin types. Rosacea can show up as “spotty breakouts” on a background of facial redness and broken capillaries. Patients often complain of intermittent flushing and redness of their faces. This can be exacerbated by sun exposure, heat, spicy foods and alcohol.
There is a wide range of effective treatments available:
In addition to the medicines prescribed, it is also important to avoid aggravating factors and adopt strict sun protection measures in our sunny climate.
Scars can occur from many types of injury to the skin. Although nothing can restore the skin to its original perfection, there are many techniques available to soften the appearance of scarring. In addition, treatments can be given to reduce the itch, pain and tightness that can be associated with some scars.
Your dermatologist will assess your scars to determine the appropriate treatment, which may include:
Skin cancer is the 6th most common cancer in Singapore. Common skin cancers include the basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Most of these cancers can be cured. The most dangerous skin cancer is the malignant melanoma, as this has the potential of spreading to nearby tissues and other parts of the body. This is easier to cure if it is discovered early before any spread occurs.
Risk factors for skin cancer include:
If you have any changing moles or new skin lesions you are concerned about, do seek an early opinion from your trained dermatologist. Regular skin checks every 6 months are particularly important for individuals with risk factors for skin cancer, or who already had skin cancer.
Your dermatologist will perform a complete visual examination of all of your skin using specialised magnifying devices. As a dermatologist, she has been specifically trained to diagnose skin cancer by looking at them and taking a biopsy (sample) from any suspicious lesion. The removed tissue from any suspicious growth will be sent for analysis by a specially trained skin histopathologist to check for the presence of any cancer cells. The type of skin cancer, the thickness of the cancer and other characteristics of the skin cancer will be reported in the analysis if a skin cancer is diagnosed. Other tests such as lymph node biopsy, blood tests and imaging may be required.
We strongly advise all high-risk patients to come for regular skin cancer screening to detect any potential changes of skin cancer early. Early detection is key to having any cancer successfully treated and cured.
Dr Ho has spent many years practising Dermatology in London where she carried out numerous skin checks for skin cancer surveillance in Caucasians, and performed many surgeries for diagnostic and treatment purposes. As a Consultant Dermatological Surgeon at the National Skin Centre in Singapore, she has diagnosed and excised many skin cancers in the Asian population. She is well aware of how the same cancer (eg basal cell carcinoma) can look different in Caucasians and Asians, and easily missed by an untrained eye. Skin cancers can also be easily mistaken for normal moles or harmless age spots. The importance of sun protection, self-surveillance and full body skin checks by a trained dermatologist is key to early diagnosis and successful treatment.
Urticaria, commonly known as hives, appears as pink itchy bumps on the skin. The rash can appear anywhere, usually lasting a few hours before disappearing without leaving any marks. They can sometimes be associated with swelling of the eyelids and lips.
Common causes of hives include infections, medications or foods. Other triggers are heat, cold, pressure, exercise or stress.
Most urticarial episodes do not cause symptoms for more than a few weeks. However if it lasts for more than 6 weeks, blood tests are recommended to exclude any underlying medical causes.
Warts are small skin growths caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), a virus that infects the top layer of skin. Small and usually painless, warts are commonly found on the hands and feet, but can occur elsewhere on the skin. Most warts are harmless, but may be unsightly, uncomfortable and can also be contagious. They are usually spread by contact, such as from one part of the body to another, through handshakes or handling of infected objects. Warts may take on different appearances and it is best to have suspected lesions diagnosed by a dermatologist.
Typically warts may go away on their own after months or years. Various over the counter medications can also be used. Most of these are a salicylic acid solution or a freezing spray. The spray is less effective than the freezing treatments done by dermatologists.
Do not treat warts on the face or genitalia yourself. These need to be treated by a dermatologist.
For warts that do not respond to over-the-counter medications, dermatologists have much more effective treatments:
When a speedy one off treatment is preferred, surgical methods such as shave excision or CO2 laser are recommended.
Unfortunately, regardless of the treatment method used, new warts may appear and old warts may recur. Do see your dermatologist for early treatment to avoid spread of the viral warts.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disorder which causes white patches to appear on the skin, and may even cause whitening of hair and eyelashes. Although it is not life threatening, it can cause significant distress from its disfiguring appearance. It may sometimes run in families, and may also be associated with other autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease, alopecia areata or diabetes.
Prescription topical creams, light treatment as well as laser treatment are used for the treatment of vitiligo. Sometimes, combination therapy may be required.
Early treatment of vitiligo patches is more likely to result in re-pigmentation. Do consult your dermatologist for your management options.