Over the years, I’ve had patients come to me for help about a multitude of skincare concerns. Based on experience, the most pressing skin issues I’ve noticed on Filipinos are acne, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging. While skincare treatments are a great way to remedy skincare woes, I always go with a holistic approach. If there’s one thing that most people miss out on with skincare, it’s that it always begins skin deep.
There's no makeup, filter or quick treatment fixes in the world that can hide unhealthy skin. The more patients that I help to resolve their skin woes, the more that I am able to reinforce the long-forgotten fact that your lifestyle and nutritional routine matters.
From Perfect to Healthy
I've seen many skincare trends come and go, but the recent craze over K-beauty's Glass Skin is now taking center stage in the local beauty scene. More importantly, it highlights a crucial aspect often overlooked in skincare journeys: a healthy lifestyle. Instead of just masking imperfections like pimples, uneven skin tone, and dull complexion with clinical treatments, I work with my patients to co-develop a self-care routine that’s practical and realistic for them. This includes looking into their sleeping habits, diet plan, exercise routines and the likes. I then complement these lifestyle changes with a tailored set of skin treatments, tailored to their specific skincare goals. This is one of the reasons why our patients keep coming back - they feel very involved in their skincare journey.
Lots of my patients are also more receptive to less-invasive treatments given the increasing demand for consumer practices focusing on “low-maintenance” self-care routines. The Glass skin trend echoes this idea perfectly as it emphasizes healthy lifestyle as the key to hydration, radiance, and smooth skin. It’s very fulfilling to see patients who go through their tailored lifestyle changes and see the difference on their skin each visit to our clinic.
The Misconceptions About Skin Health
One of the most common misconceptions about achieving healthy skin is that you need expensive products or elaborate routines. I often remind patients that consistency with a personalized routine tailored to their needs is far more important than chasing the latest trendy product.
Another common misconception is that good skin can be achieved overnight. As the largest living organ, skin is constantly regenerating and responding to both internal and external factors. For instance, individuals in Korea or the US will have different skincare needs compared to those in the Philippines, influenced by factors like climate, air quality, age and lifestyle. Environmental aggressors vary by location, making it essential to develop a skincare routine tailored to the specific environmental challenges of your area. This underscores that skincare is a continuous journey, not a final destination. Our skin health is intrinsically linked to our overall lifestyle and environment.
The Journey to Healthy Skin
One of the most important lessons I've learned as a dermatologist is that skin health is a journey, not a destination. Patients often come to me frustrated, seeking quick results. I always emphasize the importance of setting realistic lifestyle and skincare routine changes and celebrating even the smallest milestones along the way. I always try to make my patient’s skincare journey as enjoyable as possible because when you feel great about it, the more you feel empowered to own your skin story.
For instance, a young professional came to me struggling with severe acne. She cleared her skin through consistent treatment and adherence to a tailored routine which gained her newfound confidence that helped her excel in her career. Similarly, a bride-to-be dedicated a year to improving her skin before her wedding, resulting in a radiant, makeup-free glow on her big day. These transformations highlight that achieving healthy skin requires dedication and time. It's about building habits that support skin health rather than relying on temporary fixes.
Addressing Common Skin Concerns
As acne, hyperpigmentation, and signs of ageing are some of the most common skincare concerns I have encountered in Filipino patients, I work closely with each patient on a Remedy treatment program that they’re comfortable with. It matters to us that customers feel a sense of ownership with their own skincare journey because it is their skin at the end of the day.
For acne and scarring for example, I recommend laser therapy to advanced microneedling techniques which trigger the skin’s self-repair capabilities and collagen production. For Hyperpigmentation, we have our customized peels and light-based therapies that effectively address uneven skin tone. Lastly, for ageing skin, I found a lot of patients loving our Biostimulators and collagen-boosting treatments to improve skin elasticity and texture, resulting in a natural looking lift with minimal downtime compared to other treatments in the market.
The Role of Dermatology in the Future of Skincare
As dermatology continues to evolve, I see these three key trends shaping the field:
- Preventative Care: The concept of "rejuvenation," or maintaining youthful skin from an early age, is gaining popularity. Individuals can avoid many common skin issues later in life by focusing on prevention.
- Microbiome-Friendly Skincare: Emerging research on the skin microbiome is revolutionizing how we approach skin health. Nurturing this delicate ecosystem can improve barrier function and reduce inflammation. This skin care focuses on the idea that less is more as it focuses on using the gentlest ingredients to protect the natural microbiome in your skin.
- Biostimulators: These treatments stimulate the skin's natural regenerative processes, offering a natural-looking improvement in tone and texture.
- Smart Skincare: Technology is transforming many aspects of the skincare industry. More technologies are emerging to give patients more in-depth information about their skin. Such technologies provide insights such as skin age and trouble areas. This information is then used to develop better tailored skincare treatments. Remedy is one of the few clinics in the metro that has incorporated a top-of-the link Skin Analyzer to determine a patient’s skin condition.
Feeling Your Best, Skin Deep
Ultimately, achieving healthy skin isn't just about looking good—it's about owning your skin story. When you prioritize your skin's health from deep within, you experience a ripple effect in your overall well-being. When you feel good about yourself, you feel more confident, resilient, and empowered to tackle life's challenges. As a dermatologist, my mission is to guide patients on this journey. Healthy skin is not a luxury; it reflects self-care and self-love. By focusing on skin health over cosmetics, you're not just investing in your appearance—you're investing in your best self.
About the author
Dr. April Geraldez-Rivera has over 16 years of experience as a dermatologist. She is also the founder and medical director of Remedy, a skin health clinic offering state of the art treatments and services for anti acne, hyperpigmentation, and skin rejuvenation
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