AsiaLIFE

Opened some six months ago, Derma-Care is located in a modern and sleek building at the corner of Norodom Boulevard and Street 306.

 

Staffed by two qualified dermatologists as well as three nurses and two therapists, the place is not your average spa but a professional skin clinic. Like any doctor’s, treatments are preceded by a consultation during which the most appropriate therapy or remedy is identified. Consultations cost US$5, which is waived if you opt for a treatment. In addition to a range of beauty treatments performed using American Derma-Rx products, a variety of medical cosmetic services are also offered.

The latter include soft tissue augmentation (i.e. fillers for wrinkles), minor dermatologic surgery, antioxidant boosters, chemical peeling, and lipolysis to destroy fat. Botox, the celebrated face-freezer, is also administered at US$12 per unit. That may sound cheap, but getting rid of those forehead lines will nevertheless end up costing you between US$320 and US$480. Hair and nail diseases are also treated. Thai and Singaporean trained Dr. Em Sam Ol speaks very good English. According to him, many of the clinic’s customers are Cambodians in search of whiter skin. This is achieved through injections of a whitening substance into the bloodstream. To achieve maximum results, injections are initially administered bi-weekly and later on a monthly basis. One injection costs US$60, though a set of 10 is available for US$400. Dr Em Sam Ol says the treatment has no side effects, assuming you don’t overdo it like Michael Jackson.

For something less invasive than surgery or injections, try the relaxing facial for all skin types (US$35). Thoroughly professional, the treatment promises to “oxygenate the skin, bringing back lustre to the face”. Complete with careful cleansing, using a mechanically rotating brush, and a discomforting extraction of persistent blackheads, the facial has a noticeable effect on your skin. After the hour-long treatment, you come out perhaps looking a touch pink, but certainly feeling rejuvenated. Undoubtedly, this is one of the better facials to be had in the Penh. Derma-Care also offers facials for particular skin types, be it oily, sensitive, pigmented or blemish-prone. These cost between US$68 and US$75 depending on treatment. A special intensive eye treatment, perfect for alleviating the need for botox later in life, is yours for US$75. Derma-Rx products are also for sale at the clinic. Despite its medical qualifications, Derma-Care does not compromise on ambience. The clean and sleek white look of the establishment gives it an air of professionalism, while the relaxing music played during facials helps you unwind.

Derma-Care Skin Clinic, 161B Norodom Boulevard, Tel: 023 217 092