Doctor's Advice: How to Brighten Skin Effectively

by Andy Cheng Director

Achieving clear, flawless skin is everyone's dream regardless of gender and race. The search for the fountain of youth has been going on for centuries. This is evident in the increasing research and development in anti-aging products, flooding the market with many types of creams and skin lightening lotions. Unfortunately, many of these skin lightening products contain harmful chemicals that can cause more harm than good to your skin.

We speak to Dr. Siew Tuck Wah, Medical Director of Radium Medical Aesthetics to share with us some skin brightening treatments available in Singapore.

Skin Brightening and Lightening Treatments in Singapore

SKIN BRIGHTENING This term is often confused with “Skin Lightening”. Although they are used interchangeably, skin brightening usually refers to achieving an overall glow that a person’s skin exhibit without changing the skin tone.

“A bright skin is one that is smooth and exudes radiance, regardless of the skin color,” says Dr. Siew. “Although removing stubborn pigmentation is key to getting brighter skin, many people often forget that fine lines and enlarged pores also prevent you from getting a luminous complexion.” adds Dr. Siew.

Through a carefully planned treatment after consultation with your doctor, he may usually recommend a combination approach of the following treatments, depending on your skin condition:

Facial treatment that includes deep exfoliation
Chemical peel treatment
Skinboosters treatment
Pigment-reducing laser treatments such as Dual Yellow Laser or LASEMD Skin Perfecting Laser
Pore-minimizing laser treatment such as Carbon Laser Peel

Achieving a brighter, glowing skin requires multi-pronged approach that goes beyond just skin lightening. Working on removing stubborn patches of dark pigments on the face is definitely one of the ways to get brighter skin. However, achieving a longer-lasting sheen on the face often requires an in-house treatment to remove the superficial layer of dead skin cells with chemical peel.

If the skin is plagued with fine lines, the doctor may recommend a skinboosters treatment to replenish and replace the volume of the moisture-starved skin, revealing a smoother, healthier skin.

For some people, their oily skin and enlarged pores prevent them from getting clear, smooth skin. People with enlarged pores take on the appearance of an “orange peel” skin. It is a common concern for people with hyperactive oil glands. According to Dr. Siew, enlarged pores are best treated with carbon laser peel. The laser treatment effectively draws out all the debris stuck in the pores and encourages the pores to shrink.

SKIN LIGHTENING On the other hand, skin lightening treatments focus largely on removing pigmentation on the skin. Aging coupled with sun exposure can result in patchy dark spots, often on the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip.

To achieve a lighter skin tone, doctors often assess the skin to treat stubborn dark spots or uneven skin tone due to the over-production of melanin in the skin. One of the most effective laser treatments for pigmentation in the market is Dual Yellow Laser. Its unique, versatile multi-wavelength platform allows the doctor to treat a wide range of skin pigmentation such as melasma, age spots, and rosacea.

IPL treatment is also a popular choice to remove skin pigmentation. IPL machines emit a strong light beam to break down the melanin in the skin but the result may not be as effective as laser treatments. Recurrence rate of pigmentation with IPL treatment is also significantly higher as compared to laser treatments.

For people who prefer using topical skincare, the doctor may prescribe skin lighteners that include vitamin C or kojic acid. Doctors may also prescribe a strong skin lightening agent called Hydroquinone to reduce the pigments on the face.

Radium Medical Aesthetics offers a wide range of customized medical treatments to enhance your anti-aging journey, making your skincare routine a sensorial ritual that you look forward to every day.