Who's HOO in skincare

Something that's tried and tested, that's "HOO'.

- JOANNE RAE M. RAMIREZ

HOO managing director Dr. Paolo Santos and medical director Dr. Stephen Lacson

HOO Dermatology prides itself in a tried-and-tested formula that sticks to "proven" treatments, says its medical director Dr. Stephen Thomas Lacson.

"We want to make sure that what we put out there are the proven treatments and products that really work. We don't want it just because it's hot now. We want to make sure all treatments we get are the ones that are tried and tested," says Dr. Lacson, who is the grandson of Dr. Manuel Fernandez Sr., one of the founders of the Makati Medical Center, often called the "Father of Philippine Dermatology," and the first chairman of MMC's Department of Dermatology.

His first cousin Dr. Paolo Santos, son of businessman and HOO founder Joey Santos, agrees.

"Through the past 18 years, we've had a formula that we've stuck to. We started off with the number one, prescription-strength, dermatology skincare line in the world. And when you say prescription strength, it means that you're guided by dermatologists, which is part of the formula. This is coupled with working only with certified dermatologists who are there to assess and to guide you during your journey of treating your skin conditions, whether it be acne, melasma, anti-aging, all of these other conditions that you might have with your skin," says Dr. Santos, who is HOO managing director. His grandfather Enoc was also a doctor.

That the head honchos of HOO are first cousins (Dr. Santos is a Lacson on his mother Gigi's side), is a boon rather than a bane for the chain of clinics, Dr. Santos believes.