In this video, accredited Singapore Dermatologist, Dr Teo Wan Lin from TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre, speaks about breathable hypoallergenic comfortable fabrics for sensitive skin, eczema and acne.
Today, I will be talking about materials for the skin. As you can see, I am wearing a dress made of our proprietary LyoSilk. LyoSilk is a 100% plant-derived silk from cellulose fibers. It is 100% machine washable. And it is also free of the toxic chemical runoff that is associated traditionally with the textile industry. Now, why is it important that we are wearing comfortable and quality materials for our skin. First of all, understand that most people actually a blessed with normal healthy skin. In my practice, I see a subset of the population who actually suffer from chronic skin disorders. An example would be atopic dermatitis, known colloquially as sensitive skin problems or also known as eczema. In this group of patients, from the time they are in early childhood, our advice to parents is please wear natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers. And the reason behind that is really because natural fibers, such as 100% cotton, linen and silk, these have the ability to wick moisture away from the surface of your skin and are breathable. This is in contrast to synthetic materials such as polyester and spandex, all these tend to retain moisture and occlude the skin.
Besides, certain materials such as wool and acrylics, actually have an uneven surface which makes it slightly prickly and in individuals with sensitive skin or atopic dermatitis, they are predisposed to the itch receptors being activated. As a result, they could feel much more itchy wearing such garments, as opposed to one that is smooth and one that has minimal seams. So, in our design of this dress, there were a few factors involved. Now, myself, I love fashion. But I am also a very practical and pragmatic individual. I tend not to overload my wardrobe with items that require dry cleaning. I think in the age of this COVID-19 Pandemic, you really have to look towards comfortable clothing that also can be laundered at high temperatures.
In our design of this dress, there were a few factors. I do see a significant number of patients who suffer from chest and back acne, which seems to be very common in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand because of the tropical climate. Chest and back acne is actually a form of fungal acne, which may or may not coexist with true acne. True acne itself is predisposed by genetics underlying sebaceous oil gland overactivity. These very same individuals have a higher risk, simply because they produce more oil than ordinary persons, to develop fungal acne. Fungal acne is caused by a yeast which is a commensal, a commensal meaning that it is actually an ordinary inhabitant of your skin. It usually does not cause any problems. However, this yeast, also known as malassezia furfur, tends to overgrow in humid climates. In individuals who produce excessive oil, it tends to cause inflammation in the form of these little bumps which are scattered over their seborrheic areas, chest as well as the back.
This dress, besides being made of 100% moisture-wicking LyoSilk, it’s also tested to have antimicrobial properties. I think it is very important because when we are going about our daily activities and running our errands, there is always some exposure to the outdoor elements, even though most of our living in Singapore is air-conditioned. It is important to note that if you are prone to getting chest and back acne, look for fabrics that can allow your skin to breathe. Definitely, you need topical treatment and we generally treat it with topical antifungal shampoos, topical antifungal medications, sometimes topical retinoids are of use. If there’s concomitant cystic acne, for example, we treat that with oral medications, and chemical peels may also help.
In terms of prevention, it is very hard to say that there is a definitive cure for fungal acne because as long as you are predisposed to it and you’re in an environment that is humid, if you’re constantly sweating, then the problem will very likely never go away. So, in my personal choice of items in my wardrobe, I also look for versatility. When I go on trips, for example in the past, I tend to bring items which can offer me a few more options of looking different, but not taking up too much of my luggage space. I used to travel a lot for fencing competitions when I was younger and then of course, we need to pack some clothing for a rest and relax R&R time. We also don’t have much space with all the fencing equipment.
A lot of people don’t understand that the neck is an area that is particularly sensitive. The areas behind your ears, the neck area, your elbows and back of your knees, these are what we call flexural areas. In dermatology, flexural areas are significant, because this is where your skin is thinner.
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