Cysts and abscesses can occur spontaneously in any hair-bearing body sites from scalp to genital. It can be sudden with pain, swelling, smelly discharges.

Our dermatologist will be able to assess your condition immediately and may perform incision & draining or excision on the same day. Please call our clinic to explain your condition and we will accommodate extra time for you.

Quite often, a cyst can be long standing without any symptoms. It may erupt one day with swelling, pain and discharges. In order to prevent this occurrence, you may consider to speak to our dermatologist on the surgical approach to remove this cyst which is likely not going to resolve spontaneously.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common itchy skin condition in adult and children. There are many triggers for eczema, varies depending on age group, environmental exposure, and life situation.

We offer a wide range of investigations to determine the underlying trigger for eczema (if any), before tailoring the most suitable treatment.

Investigations that we offer are:

1. Skin prick test to detect common food and environmental allergens
2. Patch test to detect standard contact allergy and own products
3. Blood test to detect common food and environmental allergens
4. Skin biopsy to rule out skin conditions which may mimic eczema, if required.

Treatments we offer:

1. Consultation and counselling on management of eczema
2. Topical Management
3. Wet wrapping
4. Oral Medication
5. Biologics (Dupilumab)
6. Nurse treatment
7. In-patient treatment, if medically necessary.

Pigmentation is a common problem for any of us living in the tropical climate, and especially in Asians.

Two main forms of skin pigmentation is lentigo (superficial) and melasma (deep).

Depending on pigmentation type, our dermatologist will be able to discuss treatment options available:

1. Oral supplements;
2. Topical treatment, usually with short term hydroquinone, retinoid and peptide based; or
3. Laser with combination of pigment laser, pulse dyed laser or intense pulsed light.

Sunscreen is crucial in preventing pigmentation. Sun protection before and after laser treatment is crucial. Numbing cream can be applied to make this treatment more comfortable. Downtime is usually minimal, except for pulsed dye laser where you may bruise for 3-10 days.

Urticaria or hives are very common. They appear as itchy, pink-to-red swellings (wheals) that can occur on any part of the skin. They last from a few minutes to a few hours, and usually fade away within 24 hours leaving no trace. When hives occur around the eyes or lips, they can swell excessively (angioedema).

In most patients, urticaria goes away completely within a few days to a few weeks (acute urticaria).

Occasionally, some patients may continue to have urticaria for many months or years (chronic urticaria).

Majority of the time, no cause can be found. Common causes of urticarial are infections, foods, drugs, physical agents, and insect bites.

Our dermatologist, Dr Liew, will try to identify the possible trigger during consultation. Allergy testing with skin prick test or blood test can be arranged depending on your skin reaction.

If a cause is identified, this should be eliminated. Anti-histamines are the mainstay of treatment of urticaria. There are many different types of anti-histamines which can be tried.

Occasionally, oral steroid can be given if there is a severe flare to relieve the symptom immediately.

For more chronic severe urticarial, our dermatologist may recommend another form of treatment with immunosuppressant and biologic injection.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition, presenting with thick, inflamed and flaky skin. It is not contagious.

Psoriasis could occur on any part of the skin, usually the elbows, knees and back, sometimes affecting the nails, scalp and joints.

In Singapore, psoriasis is one of the top ten most commonly treated skin diseases, affecting 1-2% of the population. Itching is often experienced in our hot and humid climate.

Our dermatologist, Dr Liew, will go through your medical history and examine your skin condition thoroughly before she discusses with you or your caregivers on the right treatment for your psoriasis. We want to help you improve your quality of life.

Treatments we offer:

1. Topical management and nursing care
2. Oral immunosuppressant and monitoring
3. Biologics and monitoring

For mild psoriasis – Topical treatment with steroid and Vitamin D analogue will help to reduce the inflammation, thickness and the scales of the psoriatic rash.

For moderate to severe cases – Phototherapy, oral immunosuppressants or biologics can be considered. Research development in discovering various targeted immunological pathways in psoriasis have allowed development of many new biologics with good safety profile. In addition, majority of these biologics can help to improve psoriatic arthritis.

Dr. Liew has experience in initiating and monitoring immunosuppressants and biologic treatments.

What is Psoriasis? 

When psoriatic skin is exposed to triggers, your overactive immune system sends out signals that cause inflammation in the body and speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Instead of weeks, your skin cell cycle renews within days. Rapid growth of skin cells makes it difficult for the cells to be shed quickly enough.

Newly produced cells move to the outermost layer of the skin rapidly, finally building up at the skin surface as thick, scaly psoriatic patches. This causes psoriasis lesions, which are abnormal changes to the skin in the form of plaques, pustules or areas of redness and swelling.

Psoriasis may present differently in each person. It can develop slowly with mild symptoms or quickly with severe symptoms. It can occur on any part of the body.

Types of Psoriasis: 

Plaque psoriasis

Most common type of psoriasis. It causes dry red patches and silvery scales to your skin. These plaques can appear anywhere on your skin, but most often appear on your elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. They can be painful, and sometimes crack and bleed.

Guttate psoriasis

Common among children. It usually causes small pink spots, which commonly develop on the torso, arms, and legs. The spots caused by guttate psoriasis are rarely thick or raised like plaque psoriasis.

Pustular psoriasis

Characterised by pustules sometimes surrounded by reddened skin. Pustules are relatively large blisters of non-infectious pus, which consists of white blood cells. They are neither an infection nor contagious. Pustular psoriasis can appear on any part of your body, commonly on the hands and feet.

Inverse psoriasis

Characterised by smooth patches of red and inflamed skin which tend to worsen with sweating or friction. Inverse psoriasis affects areas of skin folds such as the underarms, under breasts, genital area and buttocks. Sometimes, fungal infection can trigger this type of psoriasis.

Erythrodermic psoriasis

Rare but aggressive form of psoriasis. Erythrodermic psoriasis can cause intense redness and shedding of skin that nearly cover the whole body. In most cases, it is accompanied by intense pain, itching, inability to maintain proper body temperature, and a fast heartbeat. You should seek medical advice immediately if you think you are having an erythrodermic flare.

Nail Psoriasis

Many patients who have psoriasis also see see signs of the disease on their nails. Symptoms could include dents in your nails (nail pits), discolouration, thickened nails or nail lifting from its nail bed.

Psoriatic arthritis

5-15% of psoriasis patients develop arthritis (pain and swelling of the joints), commonly referred to as psoriatic arthritis. This condition causes inflammation and progressive damage to your joints, which could result in permanent deformities of the joints. Timely treatment is important in preventing worsening of condition.

According to Skin Cancer Foundation Statistics, 1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer. Fortunately, not all abnormal skin growths or moles are cancerous.

They could be pre-cancerous skin conditions such as dysplastic naevi, actinic keratosis, Bowen’s disease, or lentigo maligna, which has a small potential risk of transforming into skin cancers. Hence early detection and management of such pre-cancerous skin conditions is crucial in preventing skin cancers.

Fair skinned individuals who live in Singapore’s tropical climate are also at risk of developing skin cancers. Regular skin checks with a dermatologist is recommended.

Main types of skin cancer:

— Basal cell carcinoma (most common)
— Squamous cell carcinoma
— Melanoma

There are other rare forms of skin cancers which Dr Liew will be able to assist with as well.

Skin cancer diagnosis & treatment

Our dermatologist, Dr. Liew, was trained in various prestigious dermatology departments in the United Kingdom, including King’s College Hospital and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. Therefore, Dr Liew possesses the experience and knowledge in diagnosing and managing skin cancers.

If a skin cancer is suspected, Dr Liew will discuss with you on options such as a skin biopsy, skin surgery or even nail biopsy if there is a suspicious mole on your nail.  If confirmed, she will discuss the treatment plan with you.

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to skin cancer treatment. The best treatment for you is a balance amongst these factors – treatment effectiveness, cosmetic outcome, comfort level and impact on your lifestyle.

Skin cancer can be treated medically or surgically. Depending on the type of cancers, the sites, and your general health condition, Dr Liew will discuss all the available options in our clinic, as well as those not within our line of services, because we want you to have the best treatment.

Medical treatments available:

Our clinic offers a variety of topical and oral treatments that will be prescribed by Dr Liew after assessing your condition.

Surgical treatments available:

1. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy
2. Curettage and electrodessication
3. Laser ablation
4. Excisional surgery – this remains the mainstay treatment for skin cancer

Bacterial Infection

Presentation of bacterial infection on the skin is very common, ranging from impetigo, cysts/abscesses, folliculitis, etc. It is common amongst those with a history of eczema.

Management of infections depends on the clinical presentation, severity, sites and frequency. Our dermatologist will discuss the right management plans for you.

Viral Warts

This is a common infection which can be challenging to manage.

Services that we provide are:
1. Topical treatment
2. Pairing and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy
3. Surgery – excision or shave & electrocautery
4. Carbon dioxide

Molluscum

Molluscum presents as solitary or multiple small lumps on the skin. In adults, In adults, it can be passed on through sexual contact.

Services that we provide are:
1. STI counselling and tests
2. Topical treatment
3. Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy
4. Skin curettage
5. Electrocautery

Fungal Infections

Fungal infections can be difficult to treat if it has been persistent or recurrent in nature. Our dermatologist will be able to perform investigations and advise you on the most suitable treatment for your skin infections.

Viral warts are growths of the skin which are caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
They can grow on any part of the skin and commonly appear as bumps with tiny dark dots.

This is a common infection which can be challenging to manage.

Services that we provide are:
1. Topical treatment
2. Pairing and liquid nitrogen cryotherapy
3. Surgery – excision or shave & electrocautery
4. Carbon dioxide