The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many aspects of our life, from mask wearing giving rise to maskne, and other skin conditions; to even the effects of lifestyle changes on our skin. One might think that being home all the time would be a godsend for the skin — if only. From stress-induced inflammation to exposure to long periods of blue light from devices, there are a number of ways that our changed lifestyles factors can affect the skin. In this article, Dr. Teo Wan Lin shares how lifestyle changes can affect your skin and also share some beneficial stay-home skincare tips while you’re working from home.
How has working from home changed ourskin? What are some of your best stay-home skincare tips?
Impact of lifestyle changes on the skin
If you have an underlying skin issue, it’s not going to go away just from staying at home. Healthy and troubled skin are rarely purely due to environmental or lifestyle factors such as staying at home or going out. Instead, it is more determined by an individual’s genetic makeup. The cause of eczema and acne, which are the commonest skin problems experienced by people in Singapore, are genetically influenced. Hence, whether or not an individual goes out doesn’t make a difference. One thing that can definitely make all skin conditions worse is stress. So if staying at home makes you more or less stressed, it will have the appropriate effects on the skin. Changes in our daily routines and lifestyle – especially major ones such as the circuit breaker – can lead to body stress even when we can’t feel it.
Additionally, changes in sleep pattern i.e. lack of sleep or even change in hours, can disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which will ultimately affect skin health.
Now that we’ve got more time to ourselves in the morning, it seems like the best time to start building our own multi-step skincare routine, adding in all the steps we didn’t think we had time for before. What are your thoughts on that?
It’s important to pay attention to what is essential, efficient, and sustainable in our skincare routines, rather than focusing on the time spent on them. This is because once life slowly starts to return to normal and picks up pace, we may not have the time to maintain complex, lengthy routines — and that’s to the detriment of our skin.
That’s true, we might have time to keep it up now, but once life slowly starts to return to normal and picks up pace, we may not have the time to maintain complex, lengthy routines — and that’s to the detriment of our skin.
Well since we’re indoors more, under air conditioning and sweating less- and there are days where I don’t even leave the house – does that mean we can skip out on cleansing?
The indoor environment is not necessarily better than the outdoors, as there are still chemicals such as benzenes and formaldehyde emitted from furniture and paintwork. These could act as pollutants and cause free radical damage to our skin. To combat this, it is recommended to use a micellar formula or an oil-based emulsion to dissolve oil-soluble pigments from makeup, and then double-cleanse with an antibacterial cleanser thereafter. This second stage of cleansing would really benefit acne-prone skin if done correctly.
Furthermore, unless you have specific UV filters applied to your windows, you can still be susceptible to sun damage from the light that comes in. Day curtains are also by no means acceptable in terms of replacing sunscreen. For one essential stay-home skincare tip, it is recommended to continue to wear sunscreen even when you’re indoors as it is still possible to be exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays indoors.
The SunProtector is formulated with physical blockers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that effectively blocks blue light emitted by indoor devices. Portulaca Oleracea (Purslane) and Oligopeptides in our SunProtector are potent antioxidants which actively fight free radicals generated by blue light as well as airborne pollutants – for comprehensive protection.
Yes, this just be a rule of thumb that applies even when you’re staying home: don’t forget your sunscreen. Apart from that, it goes without saying that we should be mindful of what we eat while we’re working from home. It’s much easier to sit in front of your laptop with a bag of chips when we’re sitting at home.
What are the effects of our diet on our skin?
While you’re at home more often, be mindful not to over-snack as this can increase the risk of inflammatory skin conditions such as adult acne. Avoid diets high in trans fat like deep fried foods, dairy products, and sugary foods as they are pro-inflammatory, which can exacerbate your underlying acne problems.
Additionally, it is important to note that majority of patients with skin problems who start on medical treatments would improve, as long as they comply with the treatments. However, the rate of recovery as well as the sustainability of positive effects is significantly better in the group where they are conscientious with their diet.
We also briefly touched upon the impact of increased mask-wearing on the skin. By now, I think we all know about maskne – which is a type of occlusion acne which before the pandemic, was usually seen on athletes who had to wear helmets or facial gear.
Can you tell us about the types of skin condition we might see that arise due to more frequent mask wearing? How can we prevent these mask-related flare ups?
Increased mask-wearing can have several impacts on the skin. Maskne, a type of occlusion acne, is commonly found on athletes who wear helmets or facial gearwhich before the pandemic. There are different types of skin conditions that may arise due to more frequent mask wearing, so how can we prevent these mask-related flare ups?
Impact of mask wearing on the skin
I published the first international research paper on maskne in October 2020 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology1 which describes the phenomenon of an “O-zone” pattern of acne occurring where the mask occludes the skin and changes microbiome (bacteria) balance and can trigger acne. Besides acne, there are other facial rashes that can occur such as allergic reactions to the fabric dyes, eczema (from textile-skin friction), and worsening of pre-existing facial rashes covered by the face mask such as perioral dermatitis, rosacea and heat rash. I also discussed in my latest research paper how design elements2 that we incorporated into our biofunctional textile mask design help to both protect against the spread of COVID and the skin at the same time.
One way to mitigate this is to have a breathable barrier between the mask and your skin, such as a mask slip. My team has created a mask slip, where you can put in your surgical mask. This allows the mask to be reused and it wicks sweat away. The material used is hypoallergenic and the mask slip can help reduce the risk of developing occlusion acne.
The reusable, washable Lyosilk Mask Slip is designed and created by the Dr.TWL Biomaterials Team to help protect and prolong the lifespan of your surgical mask. It provides a cooling, sweat-wicking, breathable layer against skin to prevent skin irritation due to prolonged surgical mask wear.
The following is a transcript from Dr. Teo Wan Lin’s podcast, Dermatologist Talks: Science of Beauty on fillers and vaccines. Subscribe to her podcast on a journey to discover the science of beauty. We’ll cover the science behind active ingredients and get deep into the cosmetic formulations. Stay on trend with the latest on botanical actives, technology and be part of our FUTURE OF BEAUTY.
29 DEC 2020: Hi guys, this is Dr. Teo Wan Lin, and welcome to this week’s dermatology flash briefing. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine apparently causes swelling and inflammation in patients with cosmetic facial fillers. The FDA advisory committee reviewing the new Moderna vaccine, has come out to state this very specific side effect that has involved several trial participants who have had cosmetic facial fillers. I want to just quickly share with you guys today what exactly this is about, how it occurs, and if that’s something we ought to be worried about.
What exactly are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are used primarily for facial augmentation. The filling agents are meant to restore fullness in one’s appearance that could be lost over time with age as a result of subcutaneous fat atrophy, or a side effect of certain medications such as retroviral medications. The ideal facial filler should have the following properties: first of all, it should have physiologic compatibility with your body – meaning that it readily incorporates itself with your tissues. It should be free of complications or side effects, and ideally, it doesn’t degrade with time. But this is, of course, untrue for the commonest type of facial filler which is used in most cosmetic practices – that would be hyaluronic acid based and they should be relatively easy to administer. You also have alternatives such as those that are collagen based, or hydroxylapatite based – for example, Sculptra is from poly l lactic acid.
What are the side effects of facial fillers?
In terms of the known side effects from using these facial fillers as injectables, some of the common complications that occur would be tenderness, bleeding, bruising. When lumps and nodules occur, this can be because of inappropriate injection techniques, or accumulation of the filler in a more superficial location than expected.
So what’s the deal with the fillers and vaccines?
Now what’s happening with the Moderna vaccine and this painful facial swelling that occurs where facial fillers have been previously injected, its best thought of as an allergic reaction, or basically an immunological reaction. The key thing here is the process of injecting a vaccine, essentially causes the immune system to be stimulated. That in turn results in the body recognizing that the facial filler in that case, is not a part of the body tissues, and the body starts to mount an immunological reaction against it. Based on the cases that were reported to the FDA, the profile of these patients essentially had swelling and inflammation in the area that was administered the filler. A couple of the patients had the cheek filler 6 months prior to the vaccine, and one patient had lip filler done just 2 days after the vaccine. In all of these scenarios, the patients were treated with oral steroids, anti-histamines, and was observed that their reaction resolved.
What exactly is an allergic reaction?
Typically it is considered a medical event due to an immune system respond to a perceived allergen. It is not likely that these individuals would have developed this response had they not been given the vaccine. The reason is because facial fillers are medically engineered to be biocompatible, but in the case where you’ve had a vaccine, your immune system will start to detect that these substances that were injected, are actually not part of your body tissues.
What are your thoughts, as a dermatologist?
As a dermatologist, I have some opinions with regards to the observation of these adverse events. First of all, we do expect that massive rollout of vaccinations against the COVID19 virus is expected to be happening internationally, and I feel that it is a very important part in ensuring that we get some level of control and immunity in a very severe pandemic like COVID 19. In terms of immunological reactions that are occurring in response to facial fillers in this case, we note that the attendings have actually treated these patients with oral steroids.
We know that oral steroids suppress your immune system, and in fact, make you more vulnerable to the virus. Personally, I have not given oral steroids as far as possible to many of my patients in the last few months. For patients who otherwise would have benefitted from steroid therapy for chronic inflammatory disorders such as severe eczema, I have certainly been a lot more cautious in terms of exploring other therapies before using oral steroids. The reason is because it’s been known to worsen the prognosis in the event you do get COVID, and also, because it reduces your body’s natural immune system response – you’re going to be more susceptible to catching COVID.
The answer is not an easy one. Facial fillers are used in millions of people internationally, and it is not as if it is the first time we are hearing of an adverse reaction. Another known complication from facial filler injections that is relevant in the context of the modern vaccine would be non-allergic inflammatory responses- we call these granulomatous reactions. These don’t occur so quickly, and we right now have no long term data as to what the vaccination would do in terms of individuals who are going to have fillers or have had fillers, and who are going to receive the vaccine.
What are granulomatous reactions?
These granulomatous reactions are usually non-painful lumps, and it is all a part of inflammation that is caused by the immune system being stimulated. In fact, in 2017, there was a case report about a granulomatous reaction to a dermal filler that was hyaluronic acid based in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. A granulomatous reaction is a delayed onset inflammatory nodule that is usually painless, that occurs much later than the so-called allergic reaction in individuals who have painful swellings, such as those who have received the Moderna vaccine and found that the site of the facial filler injection previously became painful. The key thing here is that in order for us to diagnose a granulomatous reaction, it’s going to take a longitudinal study for as long as 5 years before we can determine if it was truly a problem in individuals who received the vaccine, and also had the facial filler injected.
In 2015, in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, there was a series whereby the author conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who were treated with HA fillers, within a 5 year period, to evaluate for delayed onset nodules. The conclusion was that although they are pretty uncommon, it is important to be aware of this side effect, and to have a management protocol in place. In their conclusion, the authors also said that from the patients responses and from the literature, that these nodules are immune-mediated in nature.
What I’m trying to say is that because we are currently in an unprecedented public health situation internationally, where we have a raging pandemic that’s deadly, we may have to reconsider the risk that we might be taking with aesthetic treatments. Now, I do perform facial filler and botox injections, but the truth is, vaccinations are going to be a priority for most people and most countries in order for us to get the pandemic under control. I feel that the public should realize that we are also not going to be 100% certain how these facial fillers will further on be affected by these vaccines -for example, the development of granulomatous reactions. The truth is, if you already had a facial filler, I certainly don’t think that should deter you from getting a vaccines because these are established complications. If you do have it then, visit an accredited dermatologist who will be able to diagnose it accurately and will be able to treat it.
A word of caution here, not all painful filler related swellings are due to an immunologic response to the vaccine, depending on the characteristics observed during clinical examination, your dermatologist will also evaluate you for other differential diagnoses which may also include atypical infections. These are usually a result of poor aseptic technique, which introduces environmental bacteria into the deeper tissues.
Final thoughts
Overall, my two cents is that if you are thinking of getting a facial filler, as a dermatologist, I feel that you certainly can wait. The reason is really because the cost of human life in this pandemic, simply outweighs any other considerations that one may have.
The human facial structure is a composite of skin (the epidermis and dermis) the subcutaneous fat, the SMAS layer, the muscle and ageing affects all these structures dynamically, fillers only address one part of the ageing equation – restoration of volume. In terms of restoring facial structure and facial sagging – which can be corrected with other technologies such as: radiofrequency, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, which do not involve injection of other substances into your body tissues. A board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon will be able to advise you on these options.
The CollagenUp Facial Wand is a FDA approved device that includes cleansing + treatment + toning + radiofrequency + red photon + blue photon + EMS functions for the ultimate home-based skin rejuvenation system.
Advances in our understanding of textile cosmeceuticals in the form of polysaccharides,polymers and nanoparticle materials can create an optimal skin microenvironment that stimulates collagen production, improving the hydration of the stratum corneum that creates plumpness and firmness of the skin.
The MoistureMax™ Skin Healing Polysaccharide Facial Mask has a unique porous structure that traps cosmeceutical active ingredients in mini-reservoirs within the mask, with enhanced delayed release of cosmeceuticals with minimal transepidermal water loss.
In conclusion, if you’ve had a facial filler before, don’t let that deter you from getting the vaccine, as the cost of human life is much greater and this is a known filler complication (definitely enhanced by the vaccine) but the benefits will outweigh the risks. If you ARE thinking of getting fillers done, my personal opinion is that you may wish to consider alternatives, given the current context of our pandemic.
The COVID pandemic worldwide is unprecedented. We at TWL Skin started our Specialist Dermatology Telemedicine (or ‘teledermatology’ in short) service early in January as an accompaniment to the launch of our online skincare pharmacy Dr.TWL Pharmacy. This turns out to form the bulk of our consultations since COVID affected our sunny Singapore shores in March
As an accredited specialist dermatology clinic by the Ministry of Health, TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre helmed by Dr. Teo Wan Lin, remains open as part of an offsite specialist dermatology clinic offering essential medical dermatology care during this pandemic. Since Singapore’s circuit breaker was commenced, and now extended till 1 June 2020, our lives have all changed at least in one way or another. We check in with our dermatologist and medical director Dr. Teo Wan Lin, on how a day in the life of a dermatologist is like in the time of COVID!
How has your daily routine changed? How so in your specialist dermatology practice?
I used to start my day with horse riding at my club, swimming or attending a fencing lesson with my coach. These days, I get up early to garden, I am starting a lot of seedlings and rebooting my hydroponic system to get self-sufficient!
Work wise, I usually start at 10am and that is pretty much the same other than that I work from home most days, seeing patients via our teledermatology service.
My clinic TWL Specialist Skin and Laser Centre is a specialist dermatology practice and our medical dermatology services fall under essential services in this time of the Circuit Breaker. I started teledermatology consultations last month for the safety of our patients and staff. It was timely that we had finally launched the service in January for our overseas patients who had requested for it, and is now available for all our patients with doorstep contactless delivery service of prescription medications. Our online skincare pharmacy Dr.TWL Pharmacy also delivers prescriptive cosmeceuticals by our pharmacist and myself to specific skin concerns such as pigmentation, oily acne prone skin, sensitive skin and eczema.
Tell us more about the “new” day in your specialist dermatology practice?
My new day actually includes a lot more time for self-care! As I am not physically in the clinic other than for urgent procedures, I’ve also had to skip my regular in-clinic laser toning treatments for anti-ageing maintenance regime! I have that extra bit of time though working from home with self care which I believe is absolutely critical in this stay home period, for both our physical and mental wellbeing. So I’m doing my own home facial treatment these days with our medifacial kit, the SilkPeel, which comes with 3 cosmeceutical solutions similar to what we do in our clinic, but for home use!
Mentally, my new day is similar to my usual work day mindset. I am actually a workaholic when it comes to executing my ideas so nothing much has changed from there! I’m definitely spending a lot of time on gardening and researching on the topic of urban farming, which has been my passion for a long time.
I am working with my team at Dr.TWL Biomaterials to bring a portable Aquaponic set up prototype to fruition really soon, to be available for pre-order via our site. This allows breeding of both edible fish like tilapia as well as hydroponic growth of vegetables without the use of chemical solutions but rather fish waste. It’s also in the right direction for sustainability, and this covid pandemic has taught us that self-sufficiency may be a basic need, not just a bonus.
Dr. Teo, do you order your meals in or do you cook?
I cook all my meals usually unless I’m going out over the weekend- before the circuit breaker I had already been having home cooked meals. During the work week I use an electric lunchbox at work which I prepare the night before and simply steam it right at work!
What are you doing now with some extra at-home time?
Work wise, our consultations are fully teledermatology via a secure medical database system, which we make use of to provide top notch specialist dermatology care virtually as we would with any patient face to face. This gives me more control over my time and I am super excited to share that I am starting a personal blog on best skincare and skincare tips as a dermatologist’s guide for the public! I started opera lessons at the beginning of last year. I am practising my all time favourite song now Un Bel Di Vedremo from Madame Butterfly by Puccini, my lessons are now via zoom!
Dr Teo Wan Lin (Photo. Hair & Makeup – Andrea Claire, Location Singapore Polo Club)
What is the first thing you want to do once this is over?
I can’t wait to start riding again, go for my fencing training, meet all my friends and loved ones. Going for my evening runs with my dog on the polo field, that’s exhilarating for me. Also just seeing patients, the personal touch is so important. That’s exactly why I became a doctor, because I really cherish the human connection and this is something that we clearly took for granted before COVID.
Hope all of you are staying safe at home during this time of COVID-19 and circuit breaker in Singapore. This week, we speak to our founder, Singapore dermatologist Dr. Teo Wan Lin (Above: Photo, Hair, Makeup by Andrea Claire), on her passion for dermatology and skincare regimes, as well as what she does outside of her job as a dermatologist.
Dr. Teo, why did you choose to specialise in dermatology?
To be honest, I stepped into medical school not really knowing where I was headed for. I knew that I was to continue my passion in the sciences, but I was also certain it wouldn’t be in the laboratory.
I was always a wonderer, and my childhood caregivers have this to say of me — that I was always talking non-stop! I remember when I was sick once as a child in the emergency department — the doctor told my mom he had never met a 10-year old who had so many questions and thoughts in her head! I am insatiably curious about how things work, and also fascinated by human psychology, how people react and feel about things.
The human body is the pinnacle of Creation. I can only say that as awed I am, I am far more privileged to be allowed to study medicine and complete my training as an accredited medical specialist.
As a junior doctor, my inpatient dermatology rotation piqued my interest in the specialty, mainly because of excellent mentors and role models. My teachers in Dermatology then, Professor Thirumoorthy and Dr. Pang Shiu Ming, imparted to me not just their razor-sharp clinical acumen for identifying skin rashes and lesions — which was as dazzling to me then as the stars in the sky to an astronomer, but also their kindness and empathy for sufferers of dermatology skin conditions.
Interestingly, I saw this empathy the most acutely demonstrated by senior dermatologists — I had done an internal medicine posting, a surgical and a gynaecology posting by then. I remember being struck by how within minutes of Professor Thiru meeting a new patient in a ward or clinic consult, and he or she would just break down in tears.
Looking back, it had to do with the kindness and empathy he radiated, without saying much. People will feel how you feel about them, and in medicine, one cannot be coached to pretend otherwise. Diseases of the skin and hair also affect one’s self esteem, because these are visible conditions. So the beauty of being a dermatologist is the ability to heal one’s skin and soul.
Dermatology is also a unique branch of medicine which involves the study of visuals, of patterns, morphologies and colours. Coupled with our dermatopathology modules which is the cellular study of skin diseases, there are also record numbers of Latin names to remember in dermatology diagnoses. I remember giving a talk to a group of General Practitioners once, and they randomly burst out laughing when I was talking about this condition “Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum”.
Startled, I paused and asked if there was something I missed, and it was communicated to me that apparently the name was so long and complex to have me say it out as casually as one would say “french fries” was really funny. So the artistic/visual and literary aspects of dermatology really appealed to me. Dermatologists also acquire specialist knowledge about plants and insects —- due to conditions that arise from such contact, right up my alley!
You spent your dermatology residency years at the National Skin Centre before leaving for private practice at Raffles Hospital and then your own private practice at TWL Specialist Skin and Laser Centre. Why did you decide to start your own clinic?
I enjoyed my time in the institutions and forged friendships in my dermatology residency years that I still treasure dearly. However, I was passionate about many aspects of my dermatology work that would not have been fully explored had I stayed in the institution. With regards to cosmeceutical development, public education, potential collaborations and opportunities that presented, I am now privileged to share that I am able to integrate fully my passions and hobbies with my dermatology work
One core aspect which has never changed is my dedication to my patients. My professor told me when I left for private practice that patients were the only reason why we had a job, and if I were loyal to them they would be to me. I give my utmost! So far this has been shown to be so true.
TWL Specialist Skin Laser Centre is known for its cosmeceutical line Dr.TWL Dermaceuticals, which has many loyal fans restocking during this circuit breaker period! When did you launch your cosmeceutical skincare products and what was the inspiration behind this line?
2016 was the launch of my dermatology practice as well as Dr.TWL Dermaceuticals. All the skincare products commercially available then were by aesthetic doctors, who are general practitioners and not dermatologists. My fellow dermatologists and I were already prescribing cosmeceuticals in our practice, but these were not publicly available to non-patients.
As I entered by 30s, I started to suffer from retinoid dermatitis, caused by a prescription cosmeceutical tretinoin, and has already seen many patients who became intolerant of it. It is helpful for stimulating collagen and antiageing, but it was not without its risks.
I then created a formula with oligopeptides, a new protein molecule that mimics the natural DNA structure and interferes with Cell Talk, a biological process which is involved in ageing. This was the creation of the first dermatology product, the Radiance Fluide Emulsion, which remains our best seller today, and a favourite of models and makeup artists before makeup. It can be used as a day moisturiser under makeup and also as a night sleeping mask with our PolySaccharide Mask, the star of our newly launched Custom Mask Bar — a plant derived, fully biodegradable facial mask that increases absorption of cosmeceuticals.
Last year 2019 was a milestone for Dr.TWL, having created the Dr.TWL Biomaterials arm and the Custom Lip Lab! So far, what are your favourite product concepts?
I’ve lost count! But in terms of dermatology product concepts, it would be the following:
Cosmeceutical Range under Dr.TWL Dermaceuticals
A Novel plant silk – LyoSilk which is engineered to be hypoallergenic , skin cooling , having the feel of silk while being ecologically sustainable and machine washable!
We worked on incorporating our star ingredients Oligopeptides and Larecea (derivative of Brassica Oleracea) into Make-up for sensitive skin.
Custom Lip Lab. For lips, a 100% edible formula with Salmon RoeDNA a potent antioxidant and plant based ceramides
Devices for increasing topical delivery. Our device CollagenUP Facial Wand is the first Singapore dermatologist developed home-based radiofrequency product to enter the Singapore market and is also FDA approved. We also have the SilkPeel Microdermabrasion Kit for home medi-facial, these are all designed for use with Dr.TWL dermaceuticals Cosmeceutical range.
What are the new products you have that you’re really excited about?
I am most excited about the launch of Dr.TWL Pharmacy this year! It’s a different e-commerce platform from my main cosmeceutical arm. The focus is on an environmentally conscious concept in beauty — from refillable Make-up packaging to our all-in-one Infinity LipStain Palette which contains lab formulators that can be used to make an infinite number of lipstick colours without the clutter of having multiple lipsticks!
Dr.TWL Custom Mask Bar System
Our Custom Mask Bar System launched in March 2020 with our MoistureMax Polysaccharide Mask — a biodegradable, plant derived facial mask material that can enhance skincare absorption, a concept known as transdermal delivery. It comes as a Beauty Bar concept with a complimentary eco-friendly thermoelectric beauty fridge with a monthly subscription plan of custom cosmeceutical essence vials. It’s designed for use with our FDA-approved home dermatology facial devices.
The home facial bar concept is a huge step towards sustainable beauty, in every sense of the word. It’s a sustainable practice which can be done as a regular beauty treatment right in the comfort of your own home, with evidence based active ingredients which can be selected off a skincare menu based on your dermatology needs – be it skin lightening, skin dullness, acne scars, oily skin or pigmentation issues!
When you’re not working, what do you do?
Outside of my dermatology work, I have always loved nature, and I think how I feel about her serves as an unexpected allegory to my chosen career path. The plants I grow and the animals I watch over —- I am in constant awe of how their biological mechanisms, how they are alive!
With all our scientific advancements, man cannot engineer a living moving cell, let alone a being, from nothing. Even our clones are clones for a reason, copies from existing DNA data. Yet nature does not need clones, she breathes, lives, reproduces and dies. And again, she lives. I am incredibly touched by the cycle of life, for this reason I believe in intelligent design, and the existence of a Creator.
I own 2 pet canaries, Vanessa and Guiness, as well as a Jack Russell Terrier, Ash. At one point I had stick insects and fishes as well. Canaries are such small birds that when one of them fell ill the vet (an avian specialist) told me it was hard to find out what was going on(because they were so small) and to prepare for the worst.
I took her back, hand-fed Vanessa and nursed her for about a week in a little hospital cage I set up for her. I felt so bad watching her attempt to perch and fall off everytime. In the end, she just hobbled around on the floor of the cage. One of the pet shops I went to, the lady saw Vanessa falling over and was so full of pity for this little yellow bird, she immediately gave a box of cat litter made of paper, for her to perch on the floor.
Vanessa got better and from a skittish canary (they hate human contact) she transformed into one that would call out to me, and eat out of my hand! The moral of the story here is that living things are not just fascinating biologically, they bring out the humanity in us — the purest love, kindness and care in a depraved world.
Practising medicine is a true calling, because our response to the sick, it calls for altruism, empathy and love for mankind. In the dog-eat-dog corporate world I hear about from my non-medical friends, medicine offers a ray of hope for humanity.
I still fence once to twice a week and train with a coach. I started fencing at the age of 15 and was in the national team for several years, and continued to represent Singapore up to my late twenties. I enjoy fencing because it requires a complex series of motions and tactical planning on top of training lightning fast reflexes — it’s likened to physical chess. Did you know that the tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in the Olympic Games (after the bullet)!
I think fencing shaped my personality, our bouts are 3 minutes long and hits can be scored in just a fraction of a second. I do know I measure time differently from others —- I think it’s really because of the world I lived in fencing. I am very goal oriented and accomplish many tasks in a short time largely because I am decisive. My coach said once “in fencing you don’t think of what the opponent wants to do, you think of what you want to execute”. Any moment of indecision to me is a risk, but at the same time, one cannot be impulsive or reckless. The key is a calculated balance of attack and defence.
I only started dressage slightly over a year ago but have been riding almost every day since I started!
I am hooked on dressage, I am awed at how the intimate relationship with a powerful animal – communication with non verbal aides, culminates in such control finesse and beauty. Dressage is horse ballet! I am no where near accomplished but I am dedicated to improving my skills.
I learnt a lot from equestrian — all of the communication aides with the horse are non-verbal, and the most amazing thing I learnt from being a dressage rider, is how our emotions are always transmitted to the horse, good or bad. So mastery of an 800kg animal starts with mastery of yourself.
What motivates you and what drives you to keep innovating?
My interests span the sciences (including dermatology) and the arts. Molecules, plants and astronomy get me really excited! I paint and write poetry in my spare moments. People have asked me why I bother (perhaps it seems like a childish activity and I should have “better” things to do) and how I have the time for it (apparently I should be too busy).
The answer is — I cannot remember a day in my life without imagination. Inspiration comes naturally to me, and I can only describe it as me “catching” an idea from the air around me! My staff are part amused and part stressed whenever they hear me announce “I have a new idea” because I have a new idea almost every day —- and they know that I turn 95% of my lightbulb moments into reality. A lot of my colleagues and friends are also amazed that I don’t seem overworked while appearing like a workaholic and generating a ton of ideas all the time.
I think the secret to my boundless energy, motivation and determination lies in this — I take my ideas seriously, but never myself! I laugh at myself a lot as I always have a ready caricature of “me” in my head whatever I am doing. That way, I’m actually not held back by ego, fear of failure — everything that constitutes the word stress. This allows me to be happy in most circumstances, and even in the face of obstacles, I make sense of everything by writing learning lessons to myself and that’s how I remain positive.
On I motivate and lead — I like to infect the people around me with my energy and enthusiasm for my ideas. And I believe that’s the most contagious of all!
I’m also very disciplined by nature, I don’t watch TV, I stick to my sports schedule like a clockwork, and sleep every day by 11pm. I eat a healthy diet packed with antioxidants and start every day with a fresh mindset that it’s going to be a great day!
In line with the latest MOH announcements today on the latest measures regarding the COVID pandemic in Singapore, TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre, as an accredited specialist dermatologist clinic, is privileged to be counted as one of our nations’ essential services. We will stay open during this trying period, with our entire team of staff nurses assisting our dermatologist Dr. Teo Wan Lin to provide top notch medical dermatology care to our existing and new patients suffering from skin, hair and nail diseases.
During this period of the COVID pandemic, we will continue to prioritise our teledermatology services with integrated doorstep courier service, for our new patients and reviews. We are proud to be the first private specialist dermatology clinic to provide teledermatology this year. Our Teledermatology service is now in full swing after being launched, and is fully integrated with our specialist online skincare pharmacy Dr.TWL Pharmacy with full contactless delivery options right to your doorstep.
Patients who are deemed unsuitable for teledermatology and those who require procedures such as blood tests and treatments will continue to attend our clinic, with assurance that there will be zero physical contact with other patients at the same timing, and our staff are in full protective equipment for your safety.
Home treatments in the form of our devices and mask bar is recommended for our aesthetic dermatology patients, and these will be delivered to you to your doorstep.
As an accredited medical dermatology practice by the Ministry of Health in Singapore, we prioritise provide top notch dermatology care in a safe and efficient manner while we continue to care for your skin.
In view of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Singapore, our dermatology practice continues in normal operations with additional precautionary measures, in line with Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines, put in place to ensure your health and safety when you visit us.
Frequency of sanitisation has been increased to after every patient for each room including door handles and contact surfaces.
Treatment rooms have been converted into consultation rooms for this period so all patients are reviewed in separate rooms which are disinfected in between patients and with individual HEPA air purifiers in each room.
Temperature screening at the lobby is mandatory for all visitors and patients before being allowed into the medical centre. In addition, visitors (and/or their household members) who show signs of respiratory symptoms or positive travel history to affected countries will not be allowed entry into the facility.
Surgical Masks have been provided for all our employees.
TeleDermatology Services have been implemented for convenience of our patients, with more details available below – click to find out more. In view of the latest COVID-19 measures put in place by the Singapore government, all patients with a history to anywhere in the world in the last 14 days will be advised to book in for our Teledermatology appointment available here. Book your appointment with us today.
Public Health Sanitation Needs
Hand Sanitizer
Our Specialist Skincare Pharmacy has stepped up in the midst of the COVID-19 Crisis with a dedicated section to compound dermatologist approved gentle hand sanitizers with minimum virucidal and bactericidal content. These hand santizers are sold in refills and full size and also contain customised skin moisturising anti-oxidant oils. The public may purchase it here.
Hypoallergenic Mask Slips for Eczema/Acne patients
The prolonged use of surgical masks can lead to skin rashes and worsening of existing skin problems. This is because polyester which is the material for mask does not allow the skin to breathe. Dr.TWL Pharmacy provides a mask slip from a sustainable plant silk – Lyosilk™ to help form a breathable hypoallergenic layer between your skin and the mask.
