Category: Support Group

Happy New Year and look forward to this year’s first session on the topic of Skincare for Kids.

Skincare for young children is important as they are able to understand skincare, and have to take care of their own skin for those who are schooling. Young children may also resist moisturizing and parents have to teach children how to moisturize and understand its benefits. Children who are in primary school also have to be aware some of the school activities that may trigger their eczema flare-ups and learn the basics of managing their eczema in school.

The speaker for this session is dermatology nurse Sister Wong, who is the Senior Nurse Educator at National Skin Center and trained in Dermatology and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Nursing in UK. She had spent many years in the inpatient nursing care in CDC and currently based in outpatient services in National Skin Centre. She is also in charge of training programmes for the nurses in Dermatology.

Block your Friday lunch, on

22 January 2016 (Friday) – Venue, NSC Room 401, 12.15 noon to 1.15pm

Do note though that this is not a consultation session. For those bringing your child, there will be balloons for sculpturing, puzzles and coloring to occupy your children.

You must RSVP so that we can order lunch and arrange the layout for the seats. If you’re coming, please email [email protected] your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids coming.

One last thing, the session would be starting on-time and information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

Look forward to your RSVP and meeting you!

Reminder of next Saturday’s hands-on wet wrap session for those with eczema kids in Singapore. Wet wrap is an accepted form of eczema therapeutics in children, that is worth learning as it has been studied to improve eczema. This Saturday’s eczema support group session at the National Skin Centre, Singapore will have

• Presentation by Mölnlycke Health Care, the company with Tubifast wet wrap (read here to understand more on wet wrap)
• Wet wrap demonstration – How to do a double-layer wrap, moist inner layer with a dry outer layer; dry wrap will also be explained
• Wet wrap sizes and techniques – It can get quite difficult to wrap parts with bends or that slip off + what sizes are suitable for younger kids

Do RSVP for the session, details below:

28 November 2015 (Saturday) – Venue, National Skin Centre Singapore,

Level 4, Staff Lounge, 10 am to 11.30 am

The program:

1. 10.00 to 10.30 am Tubifast demonstration and presentation

2. 10.30 to 11.00 am Trying out wet wrap

3. 11.00 to 11.30 am Q&A and refreshments

4. YOU MUST RSVP – It will then be possible for us to prepare breakfast and for the Tubifast team to prepare the relevant product. If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids (and age, so the right size wrap can be prepared for presentation) coming.

One last thing, the session would be starting on-time and information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

Look forward to your RSVP and meeting you!

Wet wrap is an accepted form of eczema therapeutics in children, with numerous studies reporting improvement in eczema. Eczema Support Group under the National Skin Centre has organized a wet wrap demonstration and presentation, in collaboration with Tubifast, to explain what is wet wrap and the different techniques of wet wrap. The session will have

• Presentation by Mölnlycke Health Care, the company with Tubifast wet wrap (read here to understand more on wet wrap)
• Wet wrap demonstration – How to do a double-layer wrap, moist inner layer with a dry outer layer; dry wrap will also be explained
• Wet wrap sizes and techniques – It can get quite difficult to wrap parts with bends or that slip off + what sizes are suitable for younger kids

Do RSVP for the session, details below:

28 November 2015 (Saturday) – Venue, National Skin Centre Singapore,

Level 4, Staff Lounge, 10 am to 11.30 am

The program:

1. 10.00 to 10.30 am Tubifast demonstration and presentation

2. 10.30 to 11.00 am Trying out wet wrap

3. 11.00 to 11.30 am Q&A and refreshments

4. YOU MUST RSVP – It will then be possible for us to prepare breakfast and for the Tubifast team to prepare the relevant product. If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids (and age, so the right size wrap can be prepared for presentation) coming.

One last thing, the session would be starting on-time and information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

Look forward to your RSVP and meeting you!

This October, the Eczema Support Group will hold the first session, just for parents. We aim to bring parents who are facing similar issues together, to share about their experiences and learn effective coping methods.

Main focus : Emotional support and shared experiences among parents with eczema children

October 10, Saturday10am session will  have a dermatologist to share with the parents and the support group sharing by parents will be facilitated by a medical social worker from National Skin Centre.

10 a.m. – Meet at Staff Lounge at National Skin Centre Level 4

1st Half till 10.45am – Dermatologist’s talk

2nd Half till 11.45am – Parents’ sharing

Light refreshments will be provided and for parents who bring their children, the children will have art activity in a separate room on the same floor.

Do RSVP (email [email protected]) so that we can prepare the refreshment and art materials. We love to hear from you and your response will help determine future support group’s session, see you!

Note: This session is open to eczema support group members (can sign up upon registration), past and present National Skin Centre’s patients

This coming Saturday, National Skin Centre is holding an Eczema Support Group Forum on the Effective Management of Eczema. There will be 3 informative talks by dermatologists on the following topics:

A/Prof Mark Tang, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, will be sharing on new treatments for eczema

A/Prof Giam Yoke Chin, Senior Consultant Dermatologist, will be sharing her expert tips on the right selection of moisturiser and skincare products

Dr Eugene Tan, Associate Consultant Dermatologist, will share his insights on how to maximise treatment success and minimise risk

This forum is free for Eczema Support Group members, but S$5 for non-members. Do register early by calling 65-63508273. If you are interested in becoming a member and registering for the event, do leave a comment or email me at [email protected] and I’d get a NSC staff to contact you on membership and RSVP.

Mark your calendar for the event!
Date:   27 June 2015, Saturday
Time:   1.30pm to 4.30pm (registration starts at 12:45pm. Event starts at 1:30pm sharp)
Venue: National Skin Centre, Level 5 Auditorium. 

See you!

Last Friday, the Eczema Support Group had an information packed sharing session by senior dermatology nurse Sister Wong who is deeply passionate about skincare.

For those who missed the session, we learnt a few key points:

1. Skin Aging Effects. These include:

• Drier & itchy skin, due to loss of oil glands
• More fragile & thinner
• Bruise more easily, due to loss of skin cell support around blood vessel
• Takes longer to heal
• More loose skin, due to from loss of elastin/ collagen in skin (elasticity)

Aged skin shows up as forehead lines, fat loss in cheek, nasolabial folds, hollowing of mid face, vertical wrinkles, jaw contours and chin wrinkles.

2. Causes of Skin Aging – There’re both natural intrinsic aging and extrinsic aging factors, many of which we can take action to avoid:

• Sun exposure – damages elastin fibre in skin
• Squinting – sunglass to reduce squinting in sun
• Repetitive facial movements
• Smoking – more wrinkles, dull complexion
• Overuse of soap
• Bathing in hot water
• Diet – not enough fruits & vegetables, too much sugar and refined carbohydrates
• Alcohol – dehydrating

3. Sun Protection – Select a broad spectrum – both UVA and UVB protection, with at least SPF 30 for Singapore sun and choose one that is zinc oxide/ titanium dioxide based which less reported to irritate skin.

4. Moisturizing Skin – Select one that is

• Affordable – Continual use is important
• Not irritate skin
• Without top irritants like fragrance, preservative, paraben, propylene glycol, color/dye
• Fewer the ingredients, the less likelihood
• Highest % ingredient is named first – Water
• Product safety – Established company, trials, stability

5. How to Moisturize – Apart from the tips below, senior dermatology nurse shared about avoiding contact with flame after moisturizing as certain components of cream may be flammable.

• Within 3 minutes after shower
• Gently and generously
• In direction of hair growth
• Avoid contamination of tub – use spatula

6. How to Shower – Showering is a daily affair (and a must!) in hot weather Singapore and knowing the right way to shower will serve our skin well in the long-term.

• No hot water – dries skin
• No soap – alkaline, drying; use gentle cleanser (bath oil or colloidal oatmeal)
• No long shower – no more than 10 mins – Drying for Skin
• No scrubbing/exfoliation
• No rubbing dry – pat dry instead

Thank you to all who attended and the National Skin Centre staff especially Sister Wong who has been fervently supportive of the group! Subscribe at the blog top right corner to stay tuned for more support group updates!

Caring for our skin is critical, especially as our skin is the largest surface exposed to sun and the environment. Skin ages both intrinsically and from external stress – sun exposure, air pollutants, smoking and lifestyle. In June’s Eczema Support Group’s session, we will learn with senior dermatology nurse Sister Wong:

1. Skin structure and how Skin Ages
2. Causes of Skin Aging
3. Care for our Skin, answering questions such as the ones below and many more!

• Sun protection : What sunscreen protection should you use? How to correctly apply sunscreen and don’t we need sun for vitamin D?
• Bath : Should we bathe more or less? Hot or cold water?
• Moisturizer: What lotion or cream to use? How do I know it is safe?

Sister Wong is the Senior Nurse Educator at National Skin Center and trained in Dermatology and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Nursing in UK. She had spent many years in the inpatient nursing care in CDC and currently based in outpatient services in National Skin Centre. She is also in charge of training programmes for the nurses in Dermatology.

Mark your calendar on 5 June 2015, Friday, Lunch provided at National Skin Centre, Level 4, Room 401, 12.15 pm to 1.15pm

YOU MUST RSVP – You must RSVP so that we can order lunch and arrange the layout for the seats. If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids coming, and a NSC staff will confirm your RSVP.

Information shared during the session is not medical advice, information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

Look forward to seeing everyone! Mei

Last Saturday 28 March, the Eczema Support Group kickstart the year with a wet wrap session and I learnt something new every time!

The wet wrap demonstration was by Mölnlycke Health Care Limited, whose Tubifast product is used globally. A few tips about using wet wrap:

1. It can be dry or wet. Dry wrap is having a single layer of the bandage tubing over skin that has bee moisturized. Wet wrap is having an inner layer soaked in water, over moisturized skin and an outer layer over that inner layer. This applies for garments as well.

2. Different color-coded are of different sizes, the most common ones are green and blue sold in Guardian pharmacies, the smaller sized ones and garments are available in hospitals or the National Skin Centre.

3. Wet wrap can be hand washed, air dry (not in direct sun) and reused as long as it’s still elastic. You can refer to this post for more tips on wear and tear.

4. Size – Always cut a longer strip than the area to be wet wrapped, and there will be some fraying, fold the frayed ends in; and don’t keep trying to cut the frays away. Gloves are available, even for infants – they make look too small, but they are stretchable.

5. Materials – for garment, it is elastane, nylon and viscose and for wrap, viscose, elastane and polyamide. For those with latex allergy, no worries because no latex is used in the product nor the packaging.

6. Tie it up – Try tying knots to secure one part of the wrap to the next, perineal dressing, picture above. Basically cut a hole in one part of wrap, say body, and cut another on the hips, cut a thin strip and loop that strip through these two holes.

Thank you to all who attended and the National Skin Centre staff – subscribe at the blog top right corner to stay tuned for updates!

A reminder for signing up for eczema kids’ camp on 28 Nov (Friday)! Fun programmes are lined up with dermatologist’s talk.

Registration Fees: $10.00 per pax (including activities, transport and lunch). Registrations are confirmed upon receipt of payment, please call 6350 8560 or email [email protected] – it’s a wonderful opportunity for your primary school kids and pre-teens to make friends, who can support them in their eczema journey!

It’s amazing how much kids can bond in a camp and your child with eczema may love the chance to make friends, especially one who would understand what having eczema feels like. So come register before 21 November 2014 for the camp on:

NSC-KKH Eczema Camp (supported by NSC HEF)

Event Date: 28 November 2014 (Friday)

Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm

Venue: SAFRA Yishun Country Club

Eligibility: Open to all NSC Eczema Support Group members (primary and secondary school students) – You can always sign up to be a group member at the same time you RSVP!

Registration Fees: $10.00 per pax (including activities, transport and lunch). Registrations are confirmed upon receipt of payment, please call 6350 8560 or email [email protected]

There will also be an educational talk on “Management strategies in atopic dermatitis”, to reinforce the principles of eczema management and parents can ask your questions to clarify any doubt with the dermatologist speaker. The camp activities are fun and safe, your child can discover his/her inner adventurous self!

For the month of October, we have Dr Madeline Ho, pediatric dermatologist at National Skin Centre to share on the topic

Know Your Moisturisers & Medications

So book your calender and RSVP (Lunch provided)!

17 October 2014 (Friday) – Venue, NSC Room 401, 12noon to 1pm

Dr Madeline’s talk will cover:

• Good Skincare and moisturizer role
• Reduction of skin inflammation – steroid and non-steroidal options
• Control of itch

Do note though that this is not a consultation session. For those bringing your child, there will be balloons for sculpturing, puzzles and coloring to occupy your children.

Same note: Information shared is not medical advice, please still see a doc. No selling anything or pretending to be a parent of eczema child. Information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

YOU MUST RSVP – do email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids coming, and I will pass the contact to NSC to confirm your RSVP!

Look forward to seeing everyone! Mei

Stress triggers flare-ups for some patients with eczema, with many parents observing their schooling children having worsened eczema during exams.

Eczema, in itself being an itchy, chronic condition, also creates stress. Learn how to manage stress with psychologist Ms June Lim.

5 September (Friday) – Venue, National Skin Centre Singapore Room 401, 12pm to 1pm

Topic: Mental health and Eczema: Manage your Stress and help your Skin

The program will be sharing by Ms June Lim over lunch (provided). June is a psychologist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and have been a visiting Psychologist at National Skin Centre for more than a year. 

This session is open to all who suffer from eczema, regardless of age. For those with children, you can bring them along but as I can’t make it for this session, do bring some ‘entertainment’ for your kids. Information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

YOU MUST RSVP – It will then be possible for us to prepare lunch. If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids.

Have fun for the session! More on stress’ impact on skin here (interview with Dr Claudia Aguirre) for your reading

Reminder of next Saturday 30 Aug’s workshop at National Skin Centre, Singapore by Tubifast for the Eczema Support Group. This session will be focused on wet wrap for younger kids. Wet wrapping is a worthwhile technique to learn esp given repeated studies proving its effectiveness, read more here.

SESSION CANCELLED, RAIN CHECK TILL FOURTH  QUARTER THIS YEAR, CHECK BACK!

30 August (Saturday) – Venue, National Skin Centre Singapore Room 401, 9.30 am to 11 am

The program:

1. 9.30 am to 9.45 am Breakfast and Kids have balloon sculpture and jigsaw puzzles to keep them occupied

2. 9.45 am – 10.45 am Tubifast team demonstration, it’s much easier if you bring your child along for them to demo on him/her!

3. 10.45 – 11am Q&A time

Same note: No doctor present, so don’t expect to ‘Ask the Doc’. Information shared is not medical advice, please still see a doc. No selling anything or pretending to be a parent of eczema child and the session is for parents with eczema kids. Information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

4. YOU MUST RSVP – It will then be possible for us to prepare breakfast and for the Tubifast team to prepare the relevant product. If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids (and age, so the right size wrap can be prepared for presentation) coming.

One last thing, the session would be ending on-time, so please don’t come late and expect it to drag, it won’t – simply cos I have to run! Look forward to seeing you! Mei

Back by popular demand is another session on wet wrap, focusing on wet wrap for kids, including the younger ones. Another study had been released recently in July on the efficacy of wet wrap, citing a 71% reduction in symptoms out of the 72 children who took part in the study. Healthy skin is maintained one month after returning home with reduced reliance on medication. So the more reason to learn some wet wrap techniques!

30 August (Saturday) – Venue, National Skin Centre Singapore Room 401, 9.30 am to 11 am

The program:

1. 9.30 am to 9.45 am Introducing Ourselves over BREAKFAST – A warm-up for everyone, and food to get everyone awake. Feel free to bring your child, we have puzzles, coloring, balloon sculpture to keep your little ones occupied.

2. 9.45 am – 10.45 am Tubifast team will share on wet wraps for kids. They will give a presentation and have products available for you to see. From past sessions’ experience, it is not as easy to visualize your child and how to wrap, so you may just want to bring him/her along!

3. 10.45 – 11am Q&A time, so be prepared with your question!

Same note: No doctor present, so don’t expect to ‘Ask the Doc’. Information shared is not medical advice, please still see a doc. No selling anything or pretending to be a parent of eczema child and the session is for parents with eczema kids. Information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

4. YOU MUST RSVP – It will then be possible for us to prepare breakfast and for the Tubifast team to prepare the relevant product. If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids (and age, so the right size wrap can be prepared for presentation) coming.

One last thing, the session would be ending on-time, so please don’t come late and expect it to drag, it won’t – simply cos I have to run! Look forward to seeing you! Mei