Our dermatologist, Dr Liew, will be able to help you to select the most suitable treatment plan for your acne problems. You could be school aged or going into adulthood, having hormonal issues or wanting to address scarring and pigmentation.

Investigations may be carried out to rule out polycystic ovary syndrome in females who suffer from irregular painful menses, as it is one of the causes of resistant acne.

Treatments for acne:

1. Topical antibiotics
2. Topical benzyl peroxide
3. Topical retinoid
4. Topical treatment to target spots and pigmentation
5. Oral antibiotics with topical
6. Oral retinoid with topical
7. Oral contraceptive pills
8. Cosmeceuticals selected for acne/oily skin to complement other medicated treatments

Other treatments which can complement management of acne will be:

1. Hydradermabrasion procedure that simultaneously combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration and antioxidant protection. Expected results are the improvement of appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, oily and congested skin.
2. Lightening cream (hydroquinone or peptide or botanical range) to lighten pigmentation
3. Laser treatment to help even your skin tone and reduce redness on your skin

Acne scars come in various forms:

1. For shallow, depressed, and rolling scars; one can consider fractional CO2 laser or injections of fillers
2. For ice picks; one can consider skin surgery or application of trichloroacetic acid

Our dermatologist will go through all the options available and discuss the pros and cons of each option.

Corns and calluses, predominantly on the feet can be a nuisance, causing extreme discomfort. Reasons for this skin condition may be due to your walking gait, your activities, footwear, etc.

Available treatment options are:

1. Topical treatment
2. Pairing +/- liquid nitrogen cryotherapy

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.

Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis can be debilitating, affecting one’s social life. Depending on the sites involved and the severity, our dermatologist can advise you on the treatment that suits you best.

Treatments that we can offer are:

1. Topical treatment
2. Oral medications
3. Injectables
4. Iontophoresis

More Information on Iontophoresis:

Idromed® 5 GS/PS is one of the method used for treatment of hyperhidrosis on the hands and feet, available at HM Liew Skin & Laser Clinic.

During treatment, a small current is passed through affected areas of the skin using an iontophoresis machine. The treated sites will experience a mild tingling sensation which will soon subside after the treatment ends.

The use of direct current (GS) and pulsed direct current (PS) in tap water iontophoresis therapy is an internationally established and scientifically acknowledged treatment procedure, which has been known for years. In scientific studies, the therapy with pulsed direct current with the idromed® 5 PS is rated as the optimum therapy method, especially for very sensitive patients, children and young people.

Recommended treatment duration is roughly 30 mins each session and a trial of twice weekly treatment for 2 consecutive weeks will allow you to see improvement on your sweaty hands and feet. If it works, Dr. Liew will recommend this treatment at the comfort of your own home. HM Liew Skin & Laser Clinic provides the trial sessions and you can also purchase this iontophoresis machine at the clinic.

Hair – Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is a form of autoimmune disorders affecting hair loss in any part of the body. Depending on the severity, our dermatologist will discuss the pros and cons of various treatments available, ranging from topical treatment, injections of steroid, and immunotherapy.

Hair – Androgenic alopecia

Everyone losses between 50-100 strands of hair a day. However if you notice thinning of your hair with receding hair line, please consult our dermatologist early. There are available effective treatment that caters for both men and women.

Treatments options available are:
1. Topical minoxidil
2. Other substitute botanical topical treatment
3. Oral supplements
4. Other Oral medications depending on your conditions
5. Low level laser therapy (LLLT)

Hair – Hirsutism

Hirsutism means unwanted male-patterned hair in a women. This is a common occurrence in certain racial groups. Sometimes, hirsutism can be linked to an underlying medical condition such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Effective treatment options available are:
1. Topical treatment
2. Intense pulsed light – not recommended in dark-skinned individuals
3. Laser – Diode Laser

Nail Abnomalities

Nail abnormalities may be clues to an underlying skin or medical condition. Nail infections with fungus and bacteria are not uncommon.

Fungal nail infections are challenging to manage. Topical treatment can be tried but quite often oral anti-fungal is required.

If oral medications is not preferred, our dermatologist can discuss and perform nail surgery if necessary. Please consult our dermatologists if you have any concerns.

Keloids are raised overgrowths of scar tissue that occur at the site of a skin injury. Common places to develop keloid scars are your chest, back and jawline.

Individuals with dark skin and family history of keloid scars are more prone to developing keloid scars.

Prevention is very important. For instance, these individuals should seek medical treatment to treat their acne. Treatment for keloid scars is more challenging.

If your keloid scars are itchy or tender or continues to grow, it is best to consult a dermatologist.

Treatment options available:

1. Topical steroid
2. Injection of steroid locally
3. CO2 laser
4. Pulsed dye laser

Surgery to remove keloid scars is preferably not recommended as there is a risk of recurrence and your scar may be worse off.

Lumps and bumps on our skin can come in various forms and sizes. Fortunately, majority of lumps and bumps are innocent. However if you noticed any significant changes to them, please do not delay your visit to consult our dermatologist for further advice.

We can offer biopsy or excision and also histological analysis of the lesion, so that we can better advise you on further management, if any. If you require same day treatment, please inform our clinic staff at +65 6254 6646.

Common lumps and bumps are seborrheic keratosis, dermatofibroma, cherry angioma, pyogenic granuloma, syringoma, etc.

A “mole check” is one of the most common reasons to visit a dermatologist. Dermatologists are trained to examine and diagnose moles which look suspicious for cancers or other skin cancer.

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.

At your first visit, our dermatologist will conduct an assessment of your risk of developing abnormal moles or skin cancer.

Following this, a full skin examination is performed and for this you are required to undress to your undergarment. If you are concerned with any growths or moles in your genital or scalp, please inform our dermatologist.

We assess moles with specialized hand-held light devices, known as dermoscope to analyse your moles. If required, a digital dermatoscopic record of your mole can be recorded for future reference.

We also offer mole mapping if you have multiple, unusual looking moles or have a high risk of developing skin cancers. This is a specialised technique to capture digital photos of your moles while mapping your moles with the dermatoscope, which require close monitoring. These photos will be uploaded onto our electronic medical record for future reference. You can also request a copy of the mole map or photographs.

Mole mapping will benefit those with:

— Many moles (more than 50 to 100)
— Atypical or dysplastic nevi – moles that are large or of unusual color(s) or shapes
— Moles on the back, which may be difficult to keep an eye on
— Previous history of melanoma
— Strong family history of melanoma
— Moles and fair skin that have been severely sunburned
— Concerns about individual moles or freckles, eg, because of their appearance or recent change

If you think you need a mole mapping service or skin surgery, please inform our clinic staff at +65 6254 6646 so that we can allocate more time for your visit.

We may be able to provide this one stop mole check and treatment on the same day, unless you need to obtain approval from your insurance before we can proceed with the treatment if necessary.

What is Mole Removal?

Mole(s) removal is a medical procedure that can be performed either via laser, cauterization +/- shave excision or surgical excision. Moles are usually removed if there is a suspicion of skin cancer, however it can be removed for cosmetic reason.

Removal via laser

This modality is only recommended for small flat moles, if there is no suspicion for skin cancer. Laser mole removal eliminates unwanted moles without damaging the surrounding skin cells. However, some of these pigmented skin cells may remain beneath the skin after laser and therefore there is a small risk of recurrence. Generally, laser mole removal is less likely to form scars as compared with other methods of mole removal. The treatment is minimally invasive and tends to heal well, with minimal downtime. Laser mole removal is ideal for cosmetic reason, in particularly on the face.

Removal via cauterisation

Cauterisation is the medical technique of using heat to burn off tissue. It is another popular method used for mole removal. A specialized cauterization tool will be used to apply heat to the surface of the mole, causing it to vaporise. For larger and protruding moles, shaving of the mole followed by cauterisation. However, some of these pigmented skin cells may remain beneath the skin after cauterisation and therefore there is a small risk of recurrence.

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision is the gold standard treatment for removing all types of moles, in particular, for moles that have changed and there is a strong suspicion for skin cancers. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area so any discomfort is minimised. With this method, the mole is cut out with a scalpel, along with a small amount of skin surrounding the area to ensure more of the pigment cells are removed entirely. Cutting out these moles usually require a few stitches, resulting in a small scar, which will improve with time. The excised mole will be sent away for histological analysis and the results will be discussed with you in clinic.

Get Started

To learn more about mole removal, or to schedule your consultation with Dr Liew, please call us or fill in the form below.

Skin changes during pregnancy or just after pregnancy is not uncommon. The common physiological skin changes are stretchmarks, melasma (pigmentation on the face), hair & nail changes, and increased blood vessel – related skin growths, example pyogenic granuloma and spider naevi.

However there are other skin conditions which are specific to pregnancy, for example, atopic eruption of pregnancy (similar to eczema but these women may not have any history of skin allergies previously), pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (also known as PUPPP), and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and pemphigoid gestationis.

Fortunately, the last 2 mentioned skin conditions are rare but can be severe and may impact your unborn babies. You may already have an existing skin condition, which can be exacerbated by your pregnancy, for example acne, rosacea, psoriasis, etc.

Our dermatologist Dr Liew, who was a consultant in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore has the knowledge and expertise in looking after pregnant women with skin conditions. She will assess your skin condition and arrange the necessary tests and discuss the best treatment options that are safe for you and your baby.

Dr Liew can also work closely with your obstetrician to best manage your skin conditions. She can also discuss the prevention measures to reduce your stretchmarks, pigmentation for example, and will offer the appropriate treatment subsequently after your pregnancy.

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.

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition, predominantly on the cheeks and nose among the middle aged person. It is usually mistaken for acne.

There are 2 components to rosacea: the inflamed bumps and the background of prominent red blood vessels. Therefore, patient will usually need 2 forms of treatments: medical and procedural.

Our dermatologist will be able to diagnose this condition and guide you on the right treatment.

Medical treatments available:

Topical gels, Oral antibiotics, and various suitable treatment methods depending on your condition

Procedural treatments available:

1. Pulsed dye laser
2. Intense pulse light

Contact dermatitis is a kind of eczema that occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that you are allergic to.

The reaction is usually delayed and chronic. This is different from food allergy.

Contact dermatitis reaction is usually triggered by preservatives found in cosmeceutical products, fragrances, metals, clothing dyes, hair dyes, etc.

Our dermatologist, Dr Liew, will explore whether there is a possible trigger and will recommend patch testing to be done. Patch test to the common allergens as well as your own products can be arranged.

You will be required to visit our clinic 3 times in a week.

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.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disfiguring skin conditions that causes the skin pigment to disappear resulting in white patches of skin on any body site.

Our dermatologist will assess your skin conditions, arrange necessary investigations to rule out other underlying medical conditions, and discuss with you on the right treatment options.

Early treatment can halt the progression of vitiligo and may also encourage re-pigmentation. Treatment consists of topical management, oral medication may be required, as well as phototherapy.