Archive
Common Bacterial Skin Infections
Tec Sanchez-Tolosa, MD, FPDS Normal, healthy skin in patients with an intact and competent immune response is highly resistant to the many microorganisms to which it gets exposed. The hardened, keratinized layer of the epidermis – the stratum corneum – provides a formidable barrier to many bacteria. It is through the breakage or disruption of the integument that bacteria are able to invade and produce the characteristic lesions on the skin and their complications. Disturbance of the skin barrier may be brought about by acts as simple as scratching or rubbing, or by insect bites and foreign... [...]
Rainy Days Skin Blues
The rainy days have come upon us with a vengeance. The rains and its inevitable partner, the floods, present the skin with its own myriad of problems. The skin is a wonderfully dynamic organ, quickly responding and adjusting to changes in the environment: excessive heat, sun and sweat in the summer, daily exposure to dust, smoke and soot, and dampness and soaking, during the wet season. The rainy days present the skin, particularly the feet, with the problem of prolonged soaking in water. Compound this with the fact that it is not water of the bottled variety but instead a malevolent mixture of... [...]
PDS SKIN FAQs: All About Warts
Nobody likes warts. Not only are they ugly and embarrassing, they can also interfere with daily activities ranging from walking to having a healthy sex life! Want to know more about this common skin condition? Read on. This article answers some of the most F requently A sked Q uestions ( FAQs ) on warts that the dermatologists of the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) encounter in their clinical practice. Q: What are warts? A: Warts are benign, infectious skin growths, caused by a virus, that appear on the outer layer of the skin or mucous membranes. This viral infection is caused by a family... [...]
Psoriasis: Facts and Myths
The skin, apart from being the protective covering that shields us from the environment, is a dynamic organ that periodically restores itself. New skin cells are constantly produced in the epidermis’ basal layer and as they move up towards the surface, they transform themselves to produce keratin and are eventually shed off. An immunologically driven alteration of the cell kinetics of these keratinocytes is the principal abnormality in psoriasis, a skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide.. Psoriasis is one of the most important skin disorders because of its frequency and recurrent... [...]
Stay beautiful with qualified experts
“A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.” Those were the famous lines of the great British poet, John Keats. Hence, since time immemorial, people of all ages and sex have continuously aspired to be beautiful, in body, heart, mind and spirit. Today, with the ceaseless media commercials, there has been more emphasis on physical beauty and younger looking skin. More and more people are constantly reminded to use various beauty products and avail of services offered by health and beauty spas and clinics to remedy skin imperfections, like... [...]
PDS SKIN FAQs Acne: Keeping the Facts Straight
Do you have pimples or acne? If so, and you are desperate for effective treatment, do read on. As one of the most common skin problems, myths and misconceptions about acne—what it is and how to treat it—abound. As with any skin condition, understanding the truth about your acne is the first step to treating it effectively. Here, then, are answers to some of the F requently A sked Q uestions ( FAQ s) regarding Pimples or Acne that the dermatologists of the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) most often face, as well as facts to nullify the most common misconceptions about this condition. Q:... [...]
The 32nd PDS Annual Convention
The Philippine Dermatological Society, in cooperation with the International Society of Dermatology, held its successful 32nd Annual Convention on November 20-21, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City. Dubbed with the theme, “Dermatologic Diagnosis and Therapeutics: Bridging the Gap,” the event gathered various luminaries in the local and international field of dermatology. The colorful opening ceremonies led to the convention proper which was wellattended by PDS members, who listened to Welcome Remarks by Dr. Arnelfa Paliza, Opening Remarks by Dr. Georgina... [...]
PDS Pre-convention Workshop – a day of procedural Dermatology
Ma. Pilar L. Leuenberger, MD, FPDS A one-day Pre-convention Workshop entitled “Procedural Dermatology” was held on November 19, 2008 at the SMX Convention Center. Close to 250 participants listened eagerly to various experts as they spoke on a wide range of topics in the morning session. The afternoon sessions offered a true-blue “hands-on” set-up, with the attendees rotating among different wet labs. The panel of experts for both lectures and demos included Drs. Loverne Arcilla-Suratos, Jay Cruz, Angel Cumagun, Gio Dimayuga, Krissy Dim-Jamora, Jay Galvez, Arcee Grey, Rica Mallari, Tina... [...]
SHOW ME THE MONEY: A Dermatologist’s Guide to Fiscal Management
Cecile Clemente-Ocampo, MD, FPDS The culminating activity of the yPDS for 2008 was a wonderful seminar on personal financing, an appropriate subject in the light of the looming threat of the global financial crisis. Held last November 7 at the Palacio de Maynila and attended by numerous PDS members (as it was the first yPDSspearheaded activity open to all PDS members), this lecture offered a glimpse of the kind of events the yPDS had been hosting since its conceptualization. A brainchild of Dr. Arnelfa Paliza and Dr. Francisco Rivera, the yPDS was started in early 2008 as a venue to help the young... [...]
