A creative guide series and information primer, “What’s Up with My Skin?” by Dr. Clarissa V. Cellona is a quick, informative read, not only for teens dealing with skin issues, but also for their parents who encounter the same questions and concerns from their kids.
Inspired by almost 20 years of clinical and aesthetic practice in dermatology, leading specialist and SKINCELL clinic founder Dr. Clarissa V. Cellona shares her expertise with teens and parents alike with the launch of “What’s Up with My Skin?” The guide series includes a primer on the most frequently encountered skin issues observed by teenagers such as acne, body odor, body hair, eczema, dandruff, etc. It even has a section dedicated to cosmetics and whitening.
Jampacked with innumerable nuggets of wisdom, “What’s Up with My Skin?” also contains colorful illustrations and is written with a comforting and clarifying tone. This goes well with the author’s objective of presenting each topic and chapter in a fun, stylish and informative way.
“I’ve been a dermatologist for almost 20 years and I consulted for quite a large number of patients. The most common cases were often related to teen-related skin issues. I was inspired by the many teen patients that I have helped through the years. I have seen how these kids go through a complex and challenging period during the transition to adolescence.” says Cellona, whose high-profile patients include the likes of Dawn Zulueta, Patty Ang, Jhoanna Lhuillier, Patricia Prieto, Crickette Tantoco and Jessy Mendiola, among others.
Aside from identifying acne and eczema as some of the leading causes of concern among teens, Cellona also notes that skin problems tend to affect their confidence. But there’s a silver lining: “The wonderful thing is once their skin issues are resolved: I see them flourish in school, become more open to social interaction and have a more upbeat and positive attitude,” she shares.
No room for mistakes — or rumors
The affable doctor also underscores that teen skin problems are not solely a teenager’s concern. “Understandably, the challenges in managing teen skin can be very distressing not only to the young patient but to their parents as well,” she shares.
These realizations led Dr. Cellona (or simply Dr. Issa to her patients) to write an easy-to-read pamphlet developed in a highly educational format about the biological changes that the skin undergoes during puberty. She also did this to “dispel all these skin myths and correct all the wrong information found in the less-than-trustworthy sources online.”
“Sure, everything is available on the Internet. But are the parents and kids getting the right information? or are they getting disinformation in return?” she asks.
A member of the Philippine Dermatological Society, Cellona was inspired to tackle the complex topic of teenage skin during the height of the pandemic. She hopes that her guidebook can help the youth navigate the physiological and anatomical changes they will experience during their adolescent years.
“This book is dedicated to my only teenage son Angelo as well as all the youth out there. They are all very fortunate to grow up at a time when it is now easier to treat their skin concerns due to advancements in medicine particularly in dermatology,” she concludes.
Aside from leading her group of board-certified dermatologists and highly trained personnel at SKINCELL, Cellona is also an active consultant at the St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City, where she heads the Environmental Dermatology Unit. She graduated from the INTARMED Program of the University of the Philippines – UP College of Medicine and trained in Dermatology at the UP-PGH. The doctor then completed her fellowship under the mentorship of renowned American dermatologist Dr. Howard Maibach at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
“What’s Up With my Skin?” is available at select Summit Books Online Partner Stores, SKINCELL clinics and SKINCELL on Lazada. Follow @skincell.care on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates or visit www.skincell.care to know more.
