It’s been two years since I met my dermatologist, and I’m about as happy as I can be – skin-wise. Looking at my skin now, it was just a far cry from my problematic skin years ago, when I convinced my mom that I really needed to see a dermatologist. My mom and dad had good skin, so they did not understand my comedone issues, and think that my zits will just go away if I start ignoring them. Good thing I was very assertive – that my skin’s looking better now! I also do not mind the effort, and money spent – my dermatologist’s charges quite reasonably, and the results are more than reasonable! haha!
Hello! This is my Halloween photo for you guys. Guess what I am? I am…the Betadine ghost! Figure out why! Hahaha!
Kidding aside, this was a photo of me taken right after my appointment with my dermatologist, Dr. Marledi Dizon. I just had my monthly cleaning session + PCA Skin Peeling Session. The “betadine effect” is the Aesthetic Peel applied on me to complete and enhance my skin’s exfoliation process. I went home like that – good thing I didn’t commute, as I was planning to do so! Would have really scared someone. Hahaha!
Thinking about it now, it’s been two years since I first visited her office, seeking help because of my pimple-infested skin, with lots of inflammations and comedones (whiteheads+blackheads )! We started out with mild extractions, diamond peels, and changing my skin care, and progressed with PCA Skin Peels. During the first few visits, I had so much injections because of my inflammations, and the first few months made me switch to Obagi Clenziderm ( I finished around two sets ) for clearing my comedone-infested face. I was also introduced to MaMa Lotion ( now called M2 Refinish ) that really changed my life ( a MUST-have for all oily skinned people out there, take my word for it ), and thinking about it, all the skin care recommendations by my dermatologist, plus her gentle, but effective cleaning and peels on me, really made my skin improve. I can also credit my good skin to my switching to mineral makeup years ago, as they don’t clog my pores and cancel out my treatments, and be at war with my skin for some instant beauty. Mineral makeup is just heaven sent! Right now, my dermatologist could only smile at how drastic the improvement of my skin is – as she’d glide on a part of my face and exclaim on how fine the area is already, but still manage to treat some remaining areas that still need some work.
I found myself admiring my bare face for days before my session with my dermatologist as well. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have the perfect skin, nor have fine, flawless skin. I still have depressed scars – a reminder of my reckless youth, and spots here and there, as remnants of my acne days. It’s just that comparing my face two years before and now, it’s just unbelievable that my skin’s improved that much. The inflammations have been kept at a minimum – I hardly use spot treatments because I don’t have any spots to treat, and the pores on my nose are finer now. I guess, my competent derma Dr. Marledi’s techniques, plus her skin care wisdom and recommendations have really helped my skin. I’m a happy, happy girl. Before, I could not go to clients without applying makeup and such. Now, I could just wear my skin bare on normal days because I’m a “bit” confident about my skin ( not quite, but going there already ).
With my routine of Nu Skin’s Pure Cleansing Gel + Clindamycin Toner + Nu Skin Celltrex Hydrating Fluid by day, and M2 Skin Refinish by night, I was advised by my dermatologist to try to switch from antibiotic toners ( which is the clindamycin ) to something non-antibiotic, as antibiotic toners tend to make skin resistant/immune to it in a short span of time, so my clindamycin toner is now changed to a more gentle glycolic toner. I was also nagged by Dr. Marledi that the best anti-aging product is sunblock, so no matter how potent my serums are, sunblocks are always #1. With my whining on greasy sunblocks has her excitedly tell me that there’s a new, phenomenal sunblock product that the distributors of M2 Skin Refinish have brought in Manila – it’s called SkinWithin Sunblock. When it glided in my skin, it felt like super-waterbased, so I immediately got one for me ( I’m THAT easy to please! ) I will be updating you how it goes on me, and if it is worth the 2,000php I splurged on this. Haha!
Anyways, orange-faced me will be experiencing facial peeling for the next few days as an effect of my monthly peeling sesh, but will totally be patient and excited with my new, good skin! Whoopee!!
So girls who are planning on self-medicating, specially those who have problem with comedones and acne, I really advise against that. I did that before, and it left me scars. I think I was a bit late when I came around and sought a dermatologist’s ( a good one ) help, but if given the chance, I would have saved all my allowance money to see a dermatologist when my skin was still fresh enough to save. The scars are going to be more expensive to have fixed, I tell you!
Related Reads :
MaMa Lotion Gives Me That Home-Lovin Peelin` ( Now called M2 Skin Refinish )
A Chat With Top Dermatologist PCA Skin’s Dr. Jennifer Linder
A Holiday Visit To My Dermatologist
My Crash Course in Chemical Peels
Who’s An Obagi Clenziderm Girl Now?
*If you’d like to get in touch and give my dermatologist a try, a regular cleaning session costs P 1,500.00 ( with glycolic peel, I believe ) while a more customized cleaning + PCA Skin Peel costs around P 2,500.00 per session. Totally worth it! I am a paying client, and am not paid to endorse her. I just happen to love her services, and will be sticking with her for good. Haha! You can get in touch by calling her secretary at ( 02 ) 711-91-86 ( Dr. Marledi Dizon ). Her office is at Hi-Precision Diagnostics in Retiro, Quezon City
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I can vouch how clear and nice your skin is, you literally glow, sister! Inspiring transformation talaga. =) Kudos to you and your derma, it’s really a two way process diba? Good doctor and masugid na patient. =)
Happy Halloween, Sophie!
Siya pala ang secret weapon mo shobe
Glad things are looking up and i can sense your love for your Derma 
Go go go sago on better skin! 
Hi Sophie! I’ve been using SkinWithin tinted sunblock since summer this year as prescribed by my derma. I featured it on my blog last summer too. Yes it is good and the tinted one is a blessing for me. Good to know that your skin is much improved now!
Dang : yes! we make a great team. We talk like best friends whenever I visit her office. LOL! I hope that my scars will go away next! Happy Halloween! I hope I didnt spook you too much!
Nikki : Achie yes! I really love her because I am getting to love my skin. Nothing beats being happy with your skin!
Nikkiz : ahh!!! I got the spf 45, which is the white one! Im ordering the tinted one, if you say it’s good! Im rummaging your archive for your post as of the moment!
soph, the white one has more anti-aging stuff than the tinted one, that’s the difference.
^yeah, I’ve read! and it’s just so grease-less on the skin! but i also want the tinted one. Teehee!
and yet the bank account is in danger again!
Good job to your derma, Sophie! Reason why finding the right dermatologist really matters, like what I wrote in my post. http://www.glennong.com/2010/10/right-dermatologist-matters.html
I’m addicted to peeling! It’s always been my go-to treatments for clearing and whtiening my face. And with a dermatologist care, i actually save a lot more money because I only stick to those they prescribe me.
compared to experimenting on my own.. 
My friend Carla just asked last night for any recos daw sa derma. Eh I don’t have one so I’m recommending yours!
Pero now I want to go. Ampanget ko lang pero perfect tayo. Love ya!
Glen : go to mine LOL
One reason that I went to her was that shes not too far from me, and I didnt have all the time! I agree, perfection = us LOL! 
Shenny : True! It saves us all the trouble, right?
T : haha thanks for the reco! My derma really rocks! she’s not so far from you ah!
hi! what percent are you using?(m2 refinish).thanks
))
btw, your skin is flawless!!
20%
haha thanks! i really try my best to maintain my skin 
hi sophie! where can i buy m2 products especially the sunblock? i bought my m2s in the states kasi e..
hi sophie!
how much does she charge for consultations?
thanks!
Hi Apola, I think she charges around 300.00 for consultations alone.
Hi Sophie!
Read a lot of good reviews about M2. Just wondering if you’d think this is good for combination skin? My cheeks are mostly dry, and the t-zone is oily the rest of the day. And is M2 ok to use if I were to use Cure Aqua Gel? I’m planning to either try both or just try one lang muna.
Recently kasi my skin is having more whiteheads and pimples than usual. Small bumps on my forehead (which i believe is sebacious hyperlasia) are becoming too obvious already. Started having these just last month, and it’s starting to freak me out!
I’ll probably save up and within the week, will drop by at your derma’s office, but just the same I’d like to know your take on M2 and Cure being used alternately or at the same time.
I think my skin desperately needs to peel/exfoliate. You see, I’m a wash-and-moisturize-only kind of girl. And if ever, this is my first time to try lotions like these, or even consider peeling from an expert.
Thanks for your time Sophie an good luck to you!
Hi Cecille!
Yes, this is definitely good for combination skin. But then, I would highly suggest that you consult with a dermatologist, if you are in doubt or have really, really sensitive skin – a friend of mine wanted to try it but she told me that her derma told her against it as her skin was too “thin” in nature. But if you hardly react to any peels, then this is good
M2 and cure are a good combo – M2 purges, CURE exfoliates. 
Read up on my post ( google in my blog – jennifer linder ) re PCA skin peeling, and you will know that peeling is great to prevent acne, and is not really painful! 
THAT , I highly suggest. 
hi miss sophie i want to try your derma
pds member po ba siya? thanks!
Yes she is! go !