Many of our warm-weather staples come with a hidden footprint: plastics that linger far longer than the products they hold, ingredients sourced without care, and small habits that quietly add to our environmental impact. Recognizing this, more beauty brands are making thoughtful changes to reduce...
A patient came in last month, 32, newly engaged, wedding in six months. She had her phone out before she even sat down—a running scroll of saved TikToks, each one a different treatment she’d convinced herself she needed. She looked at me and said, “Doc, which one is the most worth it?” I...
As the body’s largest organ, the skin is the most noticeable, particularly the facial skin. Women and even men may get psychologically affected when their skin is unhealthy. Having healthy, glowing skin helps to boost self-confidence. It makes one happier too. After all, who wouldn’t want to...
The Philippines, in the past two decades, has had one of the fastest-growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics in the world. While our total HIV case numbers remain lower than those of many countries in the Asia-Pacific, the percentage growth is faster than most and needs to be addressed...
In an age where beauty is often filtered, edited, and shaped by ever-changing trends, Dr. Ruthlyn Pecolera-Salvosa stands firmly grounded in a more thoughtful, natural look approach. As a rhinoplasty surgeon, educator, and owner of RPS Aesthetics, she balances multiple roles, each demanding...
Have you ever looked at someone across the room and thought, She looks different, but I can’t figure out why? Not younger. Not done. Just rested. Lifted in a way you cannot trace. In 20 years of practice, that small double-take has become the highest compliment a patient can give me—and it has...
The excruciating pain and swelling of joints, commonly affecting the big toe, ankles, or knees, that comes in sudden and recurring attacks is known as gout or gouty arthritis. This is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals or urates as a result of uncontrolled elevations of uric acid in the...
A few days ago, I caught my reflection on a black screen right before it lit up. My shoulders were slightly rounded, my head tilted forward, my chin tucked in a way that felt both familiar and uncomfortable. I straightened instinctively, as if I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t. It’s...
We all know we need to eat fruits and vegetables every single day, get eight hours of sleep a night, drink at least eight glasses of water, eat breakfast, and exercise. Many, however, struggle even with just drinking enough water in a day. While the importance of nutrition and physical activity to...
It seems that every time we start to relax, a new Covid-19 variant surfaces. Covid-19 fatigue is real, and many people just aren’t paying attention anymore. The latest SARS-CoV-2 variant to make headlines is, surprisingly, not all that new. BA.3.2, an Omicron subvariant, was first detected in...
As Filipinos, we naturally have an emotional connection to food. We love to celebrate occasions and have a feast. Even during difficult times, for instance, at a wake, food has never been absent. We share food during joyful times, as well as sorrowful moments. These instances, however, do not...
I recently sat through a case study on Moderna—yes, that Moderna, the Covid-19 vaccine—and walked away thinking less about mRNA and more about how we look after our own bodies. Stay with me here. Moderna’s CEO once described his company this way: “We’re a technology company that happens...
