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*Sigh* I get so exhausted trying to explain how I got an allergy attack and ended up in the Belo clinic at Rustan’s, so I’ll just make things simple by enumerating what happened:

1. Allergic reaction was triggered by antibiotics. (For the love of all that is good, please stay away from Cotrimoxazole. It probably will kill you faster than it would the bacteria in your system.) I broke out in hives and rashes and suffered mind-numbing migraines.
2. Went to another doctor and got a less disturbing antibiotic, but that did not remove the hives.
3. Went to Belo for a skin check-up…
4. Spanish Peel and Obagi were recommended.
5. Suffered four sessions of painful peel solutions, once every 1-2 weeks.

Let me just say that it was only my facial skin that got treated. The rest of my body still itched for an entire month. I couldn’t sleep as my hand would be busy scratching at night and my legs and arms would hurt from the open wounds I’ve managed to inflict on myself. Anyway, I ended up going to another dermatologist (will rave about this later) for my health’s sake.

Now, for my beauty’s sake… Belo’s doctor and staff actually did a wonderful job clearing up my face. While I have mixed feelings regarding Obagi, which I reviewed earlier, the Spanish Peel was nothing short of amazing. Sure, I had to suffer about a week of looking like my face was going to fall off — I was really shedding! — but the end results delivered as promised. When my face had finished peeling, after about a week, the skin felt so velvety soft that I couldn’t help but touch it all the time. It was almost a shame that I had to undergo another peeling session after that as I didn’t want to let go of the new softness my skin exhibited.

It wasn’t easy, though. I had solutions applied on my face every Saturday and though most people would’ve peeled completely by Monday, mine only began peeling on Monday. From Monday till Thursday, my face had been so stiff and dry that I could hardly move my lips, which was torture because the nature of my job involves public speaking. Several areas of the skin were burnt and wrinkled and you can well imagine how putting salicylic acid (Obagi Clenziderm) on it could pretty much hurt to high heavens. Spanish peels require you not to wet your face on the first day and not to moisturize until you’ve peeled completely.

Now, imagine repeating the experience for three more sessions…
I am actually quite satisfied with the Spanish peel. I’m also very satisfied with the cleaning sessions that went before that. The doc did try to alleviate the itchiness my entire body suffered by recommending Cetaphil soap and anti-inflammatory lotions, but I was to find out later on that those were only external solutions. My original problem, which is the tail-end of an antibiotic treatment gone bad, was pathological.

The staff of Belo are nice and friendly, although I was nearly turned-off by the hoity-toity atmosphere of the place during my first visit. Many of them are quite stiff, which got me thinking, “Do they all have Botox injected in them? Have they become so obsessed with beauty that they can’t even smile sincerely?” The thought was kind of horrifying. Well, anyway, the great thing about them is that all the people involved in your visit (doctors and staff) will check up on you through SMS the next day. They’re also quite diligent in reminding you of your appointments and stuff so I know I got what I paid for.

Negative points:
I’d be happier if they’d be more concerned about wellness rather than just beauty. People asking me to try this and that treatment when there’s nothing really wrong with me leaves an unpleasant impression. I just really wanted to be well. I’m not interested in becoming paler or becoming an extraordinary beauty. With all the suggestions that got heaped on me, I was afraid that one day I’d come out of there with a face and a body that are no longer mine.

Plus points:
Being a Metrobank (Visa or Mastercard) Classic holder entitles you to a free cryo-whatchamacallit treatment after your next facial.
The Belo First card, which is their reward system. Ugh! I just remembered…I forgot to have mine stamped today