For patients who have aesthetic concenrns, our cosmetic dermatologist takes a detailed medical history. Then according to the needs of the patient she helps them initiate a skin care routine comprising of the right products and treatments to achieve desired results.

Skin is classified into the following types, as skin concerns vary for the following skin types.

Hence skin care products and treatments also vary.

They are the following:

• » Oily
• » Dry
• » Combination
• » Sensitive
• » Mature

Also, skin concerns vary according to the age of the patient. In the 20’s, one usually is troubled by oily skin that is prone to acne or has problems like dark circles or pigmentation. As the clock ticks on there are some inevitable changes such as appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. Timely intervention at this stage goes a long way in preventing those unwanted changes. Also hormonal changes such as pregnancy can adversely affect a woman’s appearance with the appearance of melasma (pregnancy-mask), dark circles, hair fall and an overall decrease in the radiance of the skin.

As one ages further skin even loses its tone and elasticity. This is the time to intervene with active cosmetic procedures.

Some are genetically blessed with a good skin, while some are not Those who are, need to maintain it while the others need to correct it. Our lifestyle, diet, exercise pattern also play a major role.

 

SUN CARE

With the media advertising so extensively on sunscreens, there is increasing awareness about the need to protect ourselves from the sun's ultraviolet rays. But there are many unanswered questions. Who needs to use a sunscreen? How much sunscreen is the right amount to be used? Which is the right product for my skin? Does a sunscreen protect us 100% from UV damage?

There is no one right sunscreen for everyone. Depending on the skin type and amount of sun exposure; we suggest the right sunscreen for our patients.

The sunlight consists of mainly 2 harmful rays -: Ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays .UVA rays are the aging rays as they cause signs of premature aging such as wrinkles & lines while UVB rays are the burning rays and can lead to the sun burns. While UVB rays are filtered by the glass windows, UVA rays are not. Hence one should use a sunscreen even while one is indoors.

While choosing a sunscreen, the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) must be considered .It refers to the ability of the sunscreen to reflect the sun’s burning rays or the ability to protect one’s skin from sunburn. A sunscreen with SPF 15 would protect the skin 15 times more than an unprotected skin from getting a sunburn. Hence it is from recommended to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater all year around.

A sunscreen should be applied to the skin 15-20 minutes before going out. Coat the skin liberally and then rub it in thoroughly. Using less than desired amount can give you a false sense of security and leave you unprotected from the sun rays. Also the sunscreen can break down due to sunlight and can wash away with water. So reapply your product every 2-3 hours. Even the so called ‘water resistant’ sunscreen gets washed away within 40 minutes with swimming or excessive sweating.

Besides this, get sun-safe! Wear protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts, hats and sun glasses and whenever out, seek shade!