Spectra Soft Laser Peel - My Review

I've done a lot of skin treatments with my dermatologist, Dr. Margaret Corcoran for quite a while now. My acne is now controlled and my deep scars have improved a lot. But I still have a lot of open pores. I did have a session of fractional CO2 laser before, but I haven't had time to undergo another session because I needed to go on leave after the procedure and I can't afford to do so. So my dermatologist suggested the newest treatment in her clinic - Spectra Soft Laser Peel. She said that it's a no downtime treatment for acne and acne-prone skin, oily skin, open pores and dark skin blemishes. She said that it can tighten my pores in around 5 treatments. I got really curious about it so I tried it.

Right after the laser treatment, I just had a little pinkish blush for around 2 hours and it faded out afterwards. There were no scabs, no ugly peeling off. But after 5 days, I noticed that my skin got brighter and softer. Plus after the 3rd session, I noticed significant tightening of my pores, especially around the nose area. The improvement was even way better after the 5th session.

This is a photo before Spectra soft laser peel:

And this is a photo a week after the 5th session:

I also noticed that the oiliness of my skin has decreased. My skin looks brighter as well. I get a lot of compliments on the great improvement of my skin. :)

My Hair Loss Treatment Experience

I heard of how traumatic hair loss is for people before, but I didn't even think that it would happen to me. After all, I had thick hair when I was a child and in my teens. But then stress from work due to my demanding supervisor took a toll on me and I had extreme hair loss. I noticed a bald patch and was so alarmed that I went to my dermatologist, Dr. Margaret Corcoran. She looked at it and she said that it was 'Alopecia Areata.'

My dermatologist said that it is stress-induced and also can have genetic component. I asked my parents and my mom told me that after she got pregnant with my youngest sister, she had extreme hair loss also and had a bald patch like mine so I guess it's genetic and stress-induced for me. I had weekly steroid injections with my dermatologist and she gave me several medicines to take home - Kairfoll shampoo, Kairfoll serum and Hair Grower solution.

This is my bald patch after 1 month of treatment:

After 5 months, this is a photo of my scalp:

Thanks to my dermatologist, Dr. Margaret Corcoran, for treating my 'Alopecia Areata.' Now I can have my hair down again and not be embarrassed about showing a bald patch when the wind blows it in the wrong direction. LOL! ;)

My Leg Vein Treatment Experience

My leg veins have been bothering me lately so I had to ask my dermatologist if she can do something about it. She recommended that I undergo sclerotherapy. She explained that it's an injection of a medicine that will kill my visible leg veins and I got scared. But because lately I have had bad aching leg pains, I gathered up enough courage to have the treatment.

This is my right leg before sclerotherapy:

It was quite painful, it's like something hot and burning was injected inside my leg. Then there was bruising for a few weeks. Good thing my dermatologist gave me a lotion, Noveauvein lotion so my bruising went away faster than I expected. This is a photo of my right leg now:

Even though the treatment was quite painful, I think that I made the right choice. Thanks to the expert hands of my dermatologist, Dr. Margaret Corcoran. :)

My Freckles Treatment Experience

I may not be really fair-skinned, but because of some Spanish mix in my family's genes, I had freckles on my shoulders and upper part of my arms. It's quite unsightly especially when I wore sleeveless shirts and I've tried many whitening creams and lotions but they all didn't work.

So I went to my dermatologist and asked her about what treatment for these ugly freckles. She recommended Nd:Yag laser. I had 4 sessions of the laser and I'm totally happy with the results. This is a photo 2 weeks after my last session of laser:

The treatment was not really painful because of the anesthetic cream that was applied on the area before the laser. There was a little redness for around 2 days and scabbing for around a week. The downtime was not too much for me to handle, I just wore blouses with sleeves and no one even noticed. My boyfriend thinks that my shoulders and upper arms look so much better. I can wear sleeveless shirts and even spaghetti strapped blouses/dresses without being embarrassed at all. I do recommend this laser treatment for freckles. My dermatologist also said that it's also good for tattoo removal, birthmarks and dark skin pigmentations like dark scars. Now, I'm thinking of having one on the dark scars on my legs soon.

My Acne Treatment Experience

I have long been waiting to share my experience but had no chance since I didn't have a blog! ;) Anyways, it's a very long and tedious journey for me, from my mid-teens to my early-20's. Of course when you're young, you just believe your older relatives about their regimens when they were younger. My grandma told me that she used boiled guava leaves and applied them on her face and that dried her pimples. I tried it and because I have very sensitive skin, I ended up burning my face! Oh well... Then an aunt told me that she used Perla soap as facial soap. I was very doubtful about it, but since my mom egged me to try it since it helped my aunt, plus it's cheaper than going to buy those expensive creams or even go to the dermatologist, I tried it, and ended up with a lot more pimples. These and some other stuff over the counter and nothing seemed to help.

This is a photo of my cheek when I was a senior in college. Not a good sight, I know.

When I already have some financial ability to go see a dermatologist on my own, I went to Dr. Margaret Corcoran as per recommendation of a friend who was her patient as well. She was very nice and accommodating and very patient in explaining to me how acne comes about and the treatment options. I had acne facials, acne cure light treatments, and numerous acne injections. She gave me toners, gels and creams. She also gave me Acnotin capsules which is an Isotretinoin. Plus she advised me to sleep at least 6 hours each night and limit my intake of fried foods, spicy foods, sweets, nuts and starchy foods.

After 2 months, my skin was cleared of big pimples. This is a photo of my cheek now:

I'm currently undergoing scar treatments with Dr. Corcoran every month. I have some deep scars, but I know that with Dr. Corcoran's able hands, I will have way better skin. I will update you on the results soon. 

Dr. Corcoran's rates are very reasonable. Plus she is a real dermatologist. Try it out and see if Dr. Corcoran is the right dermatologist for you. 

Her clinic details:

   CorDerm Advanced Dermatology and Laser Center

   Suite 1502 Medical Plaza Makati, Amorsolo corner dela Rosa St., Makati City

   Phone: 8088140, 0917-9579335

   Open: Monday to Saturday 11-7pm

   Website: www.corderm.com