Duterte admits seeing dermatologist over darkening face

President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo by AARON FAVILA / AP)

President Rodrigo Duterte admitted Thursday that he consulted a dermatologist to check the skin discoloration on his face after speculations surfaced that he might be suffering from a serious illness because of it.

“A dermatologist visited me. She is a lady but she is very good,” he said in a speech during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel.

He blamed his skin regimen, particularly the facial cream he was using, for the discoloration on his face.

He previously said he got darker skin in the face because of his military camp visits, including going up and down the mountain.

“Nasunog itong…,” he said pointing to his face.

“Buti na lang napunta ako dun sa derma na she’s very good. Kasi yang ginamit ko kasi, ‘yang sa asawa ko, ah cream lang ‘yan. Yung asawa ko Shisheido, may 1, 2, 3, 4,” he added.

Shisheido, according to its webiste, is a Japanese brand offering skincare lines, including anti-aging treatments.

He then explained his facial regimen.

“One, sabunan mo sige. Two, mahapdi na. Three, four, five tapos meron pa ‘yung maliit. ‘Yun sa asawa mo okay na ‘yan. Pagtingin ko, ‘Pu*t*n*i**, bakit nangitim ako lalo?’,” he said.

Worried about the discoloration on his face, he decided to consult a dermatologist.

“Maitim man talaga ako. Lolo ko Aprikano eh. Sabi ko, ano ginagamit mo? Sinulat ko, pinapicturan ko dun sa Davao ng kasama sa bahay, tapos pinadala dito pinatingnan,” he said.

“Sabi niya, ito lang ang gamitin mo. Itong dalawa. Pati ito lang, ‘yan lang, ‘yung iba huwag mo na gamitin, mas lalo ka iitim. Totoo. I do not have the permission but she’s very good,” he added.

Amid speculations that he is seriously ill, he said the character of a man should not be based on skin color.

“Tinitingnan ko lang. Eh ano, para sa akin lalaki is not really the color of your skin on the face, it’s the character. Hindi ako bilib diyan sa… Guwapo-guwapo tapos ano pa pala,” he said.

The septuagenarian President said it is normal for people his age to have illness.

“Ako 73 years old. Huwag kayong magtanong kung may sakit ako o wala. Lahat ng 73 years old dito sa pu*t*n*i** mundong ito may sakit. Pareho kayo dala-dala na ‘yang mga maintenance nila,” he noted.  /kga