Dermatology in Philippines

Dermatology is a branch of medicine that focuses on health issues affecting the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membrane. It is a specialty with both surgical and medical aspects. A dermatologist can address cosmetic issues, which can help to rejuvenate the appearance of the skin, nails, and hair. Being a dermatologist requires a great depth of clinical knowledge, including the variety of internal health problems that may cause skin symptoms. Dermatologists can treat over 3,000 conditions. Some of the most common are acne, dermatitis and eczema, hair loss, nail problems, fungal infections, warts, vitiligo, and skin cancer.

Dermatology has a number of departments and specialties, including:

• Cosmetic Dermatology – dermatologists have been the leaders in cosmetic surgery. Many dermatologists are trained on the use of fillers, botulinum toxin, and laser surgery. Some dermatologists also perform blepharoplasty, liposuction, and facelifts. However, most dermatologists limit their cosmetic practice to minimally invasive procedures.
• Dermatopathology – this field is a joint specialty of dermatology and pathology. It focuses on the study of cutaneous diseases at molecular and microscopic levels. Dermatopathology can make a definitive diagnosis of various skin diseases, including melanoma.
• Trichology – this is the study of the hair and the scalp. This field of dermatology deals with diseases such as hair loss, scalp changes, hypertrichosis, and hair abnormalities.
• Immunodermatology – this filed specializes in immune-mediated skin diseases, such as bullous pemphigoid and lupus.
• Pediatric Dermatology – pediatric dermatologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases in children, which include newborns and infants.

What does the Procedure Involve?

A range of medical and cosmetic procedures are used to manage issues affecting the skin, nails, and hair. Many skin conditions can be treated by medications and noninvasive procedures, while others may require more invasive approaches. The following are several dermatologic procedures:

• Cosmetic injections – cosmetic injections can temporarily address scarring, wrinkles, and reduced facial fullness. A dermatologist can inject botulinum toxic (Botox) or fillers, such as fat and collagen. The results may last for a few months before you need another injection.
• Chemical peels – this procedure is used to treat some types of acne, as well as sun-damaged skin. It can also treat other cosmetic complaints, such as lines under the eyes and age spots. During chemical peels, a chemical solution is applied to the skin. This chemical solution causes a layer of skin to peel off, revealing regenerated skin beneath it that is typically a lot smoother.
• Dermabrasion – this type of procedure uses a high-speed rotating brush to remove the top layer of the skin, which can help reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and tattoos, scar tissue, and potentially precancerous areas of the skin.
• Cryotherapy – cryotherapy involves freezing skin lesions, usually with liquid nitrogen, to destroy the affected cells. It can be a quick treatment for a number of benign skin issues, such as warts.
• Hair removal or restoration – various methods can be used to address hair loss, such as hair transplants. On the other hand, dermatologists can use lasers to remove unwanted hair from the body.
• Excision of lesions – skin lesions may be cut away to prevent a disease from spreading, to improve symptoms, for cosmetic reasons, or to prevent reoccurring infection. Excision of lesions may be done under a local or general anesthetic.
• Laser surgery –can be used to treat a number of cosmetic problems or skin issues, such as warts, tumors, moles, scars, birthmarks, wrinkles, and unwanted tattoos.
• Tumescent liposuction – this procedure is used by dermatologists to remove fat. Large volumes of local anesthetic are injected into fatty tissue, then it is sucked from the body. Note that tumescent liposuction is performed to contour the body, not to treat obesity.
• Vein procedures – people with superficial leg veins, called spider veins, may want them removed. Several procedures can be done to remove them, but sclerotherapy is the most popular treatment. It involves injecting a special solution or a foam into the vein. The special solution and foam irritate the lining, causing the vein to become less noticeable or, in some cases, disappear completely.
• Skin grafts and flaps – missing skin can be restored using skin from other areas on the body. Dermatologists can also repair skin loss by making a flap of skin from a nearby area of the body. The flap of skin is then used to cover the damaged patch.
• Biopsies – a skin biopsy is usually needed to diagnose or rule out certain conditions.
• Mohs surgery – this procedure is a treatment for skin cancer. It involves removing layers of skin in order to get rid of cancerous cells. The removed skin layers are then examined under a microscope. Then, successive layers are removed until there are no more cancerous cells found in the skin.
• PUVA – Psoralen combined with ultraviolet radiation (PUVA) is a procedure to treat several skin diseases, such as vitiligo, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Psoralen is a drug that can make the skin more sensitive to radiation treatment.

How Long Should I Stay in Philippines?

Depending on the type of procedure you have, you may be able to leave the hospital on the same day or stay for several days. For noninvasive treatments, such as chemical peels and cosmetic injections, you should be able to leave the hospital on the same day and fly home within a couple of days. For invasive procedures, particularly to treat serious medical conditions, such as cancer, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days, and stay in Philippines for at least 10 to 14 days. Your surgeon and/or medical travel team will advise you on this matter.

What's the Recovery Time?

Recovery time will vary depending on the type of procedure you have, the reason why you have the procedure in the first place, and your general health. Your dermatologist will usually give you a detailed recovery timeline for each procedure. In general, recovery time for nonsurgical procedures is typically short and you should be able to resume your normal routine within a few days. For surgical procedures, it may take several weeks until you are allowed to return to your full daily activities.

What About Aftercare?

Your dermatologist will give you a set of instructions to care for yourself during the recovery period. The instructions will be different for each type of procedures, but they may include a diet plan, light exercises to follow, how to care for your surgical wounds or affected area, activities you can or cannot do, signs of complications to be aware of, and medication to take. It is important that you follow your dermatologist’s instructions closely in order to avoid complications and to obtain the best possible results.

Some cosmetic procedures may not be permanent, such as dermal fillers and Botox, so you will need to have regular treatments in order to maintain the results. For skin cancer treatment, you may need to attend follow-up checkups to ensure that cancer has not come back.

What's the Success Rate?

Experienced and skilled dermatologists will be able to deliver a high success rate and satisfactory results. However, every type of procedure carries some risk, which may include infection, swelling, bleeding, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and unsatisfactory results.

Are there Alternatives to Dermatology?

If you have any problems with your skin, going to a dermatologist is the only way to treat it. However, if the skin problem is caused by an underlying condition, your doctor or dermatologist will recommend you to see relevant doctors to treat it.

What Should You Expect Before and After the Procedure?

Before seeing a dermatologist, you may have a problem with your skin. You may not like the wrinkles on your face, or you may have a lesion that needs to be removed. After receiving treatment from a dermatologist, your skin problems should be addressed. You may be able to achieve your dream appearance, any disease you had before may be treated.

Dermatology in and around Philippines

About the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation in the heart of Southeast Asia. It extends from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. It is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’, the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It comprises three main island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila, the capital city, lies in the southwestern part of Luzon. Quezon City is the largest and most populous city in the country.

It is a prominent English-speaking country and was once a colony of Spain and the United States. It’s the most Westernised country in Asia. However, its culture is a mix of indigenous Malay culture and Spanish and American heritage.

Besides being one of the top tourist destinations, the Philippines is also an emerging medical tourism destination. It ranks in 8th position among popular medical tourism countries and more than 10,000 medical tourists visit the Philippines every year for various treatments. The following factors all contribute to the progress of medical tourism within the Philippines.

• Expert and board-certified medical professionals with international qualifications and training.
• Internationally-accredited hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment and modern facilities.
• Affordable costs compared to advanced nations
• Inexpensive accommodation
• The English language is widely-spoken making communication with the Medical team and patients easy.
• Tropical climate helps in the recovery and recuperation

The most common and popular procedures and treatments in the Philippines are cosmetic surgery, weight-loss surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry. As of late, people come here even for liver and kidney transplant surgeries, and cardiac surgeries due to the cost advantage it provides.

For example, a Breast Augmentation surgery that costs between $7,500-$8,500 in the US costs only between $3,000-$3,500 in the Philippines which would be a saving of about 58% to 60%. Also, a coronary artery bypass surgery costing $70,000-$133,000 in the US, will only cost between $11,500-$17,500 and would result in a saving of almost 83% to 86%. Even after adding travel and living expenses, it still makes it a, very good value for the patient to get medical care in the Philippines and several of the more popular Hospital and Clinics are located in Manila, and are St. Luke's Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City and Asian Hospital and Medical Center

Popular Parts of the Philippines

The Philippines has a total land area of 116,000 square miles, with a large population of 107,791,044 million people. It has many pristine beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands, heritage towns, and monuments, With hotels, food, and transportation very affordable, it’s also a good budget tourism destination.

The following are some of the most beautiful places to visit in the Philippines:

• El Nido –is known for its white-sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and coral reefs and is the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago which is a group of islands. The laid-back town of El Nido is a base for island-hopping tours, and kayaking trips to mountainous Cadlao Island, El Nido is situated on the northern edge of mainland Palawan.
• Coron – Is also situated in Palawan and is known for its warm waters, ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and deep diving. The breathtaking Kayangan Lake, surrounded by karst walls is a visual treat. It is the cleanest lake in the Philippines.
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park –is also part of Palawan and is situated to the southeast, in the Sulu Sea. It’s home to countless coral reefs, and expansive breeds of fish, dolphins, sharks, and whales and It is a great water destination for divers.
• Banaue Rice Terraces – They lie within the mountainous region of the Cordilleras. The rice terraces are about 2,000 years old, a result of the labor of the predecessors of the region and They provide efficient space for people to farm on.
• Intramuros – The walled historical area of Manila contains the remains of a bygone era with its cobblestone streets and preserved remnants. Walking tours and carromata rides (two-wheeled box-like vehicles drawn by a single native pony) are popular here.
• Mount Mayon –is a 2,500-meter-tall active volcano. It’s famed for its perfect symmetry and accurate conical shape. You can enjoy the view from some distance or experience it at close quarters, by hiking for a couple of days.
• Hinatuan Enchanted River – Locals believe the river has mystical qualities. They feel fairies and Engkanto (other nature spirits) guard the enchanting blue-green river. The unknown source of clear saltwater is another mystery surrounding the river.

Boracay and Siargao are other popular tourist spots with their powdery white sand and water activities.

Weather and Climate in the Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate. The general weather is hot and very humid. It experiences only three seasons:

1. Summer Season – A very hot and dry summer season is between March and May.
2. Wet Season – Rainy Season is between June and November when the southwest monsoon is most active. In this period, typhoons are common, especially during September and October.
3. Dry Season – There is a cool and dry season between December and February, due to the cold winds brought in by the northeastern monsoon.

The average temperature of the Philippines ranges between 25°C and 32°C (78-90°F) with humidity of about 77%. High-altitude areas are much cooler, with night temperatures dropping to 20°C (68°F). The average annual temperature is around 26.6°C (79.9°F)

Getting Around in the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation, most international travelers reach the country by air. The country has many international airports in various cities including Cebu, Davao, Manila, Kalibo, and Angeles.

Many airlines operate flights in and out of Manila to several destinations. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia are the national carriers of the Philippines. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and many Middle Eastern airlines operate direct flights to Manila. The Southeast Asian cities of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City have wide connectivity to Manila and Cebu. You can reach Manila directly from London by flying Philippine Airlines. US travelers can fly via Japan to the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific, Tigerair Philippines, and PAL Express are some low-cost carriers that service domestic destinations in the country.

For transport within the Philippines, you have Jeepneys which are WWII- army jeeps converted into transport jeeps. They are cheap, open, and usually fully loaded with passengers which are normally cramped with 14 to 20 people sitting shoulder to shoulder depending on the length of the vehicle They operate as collective taxis, picking up and dropping passengers within cities.

Tourist Visas in the Philippines

Travelers from more than 150 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Philippines can enter the country without a tourist visa. EU, Australia, Japan, and the US are a few visa-exempt countries. In general, you can stay for up to 30 days, provided your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival. Showing proof of onward and return journeys is compulsory.

Citizens of India, China, and Egypt are some of the countries that will need to get a visa in advance to enter the Philippines.

Additional Information

• Philippine Peso or Piso (PHP) is the official currency of the Philippines. Its subdivision is 100 centavos or centimos for a Peso. The current exchange rate for one US dollar is 51.99 PHP. You will be able to use US Dollars in Metro Manila and possibly in Cebu City. In other areas, it’s better to have pesos for exchange.
• You will find all major banks and plenty of ATMs everywhere. Master and Visa cards are accepted in most businesses.
• Tagalog or Filipino language is the main spoken language. English is also spoken and understood in the Philippines, due to the US influence during its colonization.
• Roman Catholicism is the major religion of the Philippines. 91% of the population are Christians and about 5.5% comprises of Islam religion.
• New Year’s Day, Araw ng Kagitingan, Independence Day, National Hero’s Day, Bonifacio Day, and Christmas are some of the important holidays in the Philippines.