Doctor's mantra: Look good, feel good

Say the word 'laser' in conjunction with skincare and you're bound to have a few raised eyebrows—either because laser seems like a complex phenomenon or because it injects abject fear in our minds. To tackle this and to educate an interested audience, three renowned aesthetic medical practitioners—Dr. Jaishree Sharad, Dr. Niteen Dhepe and Dr. Vinod Vij—took to the stage at the 5th dna Alma Lasers' Vibrant Forever workshop, hosted at Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai, at Vashi, last weekend.

The workshop began with a round of applause for the sheer presence of men in what is generally believed to be a woman's domain. Also noteworthy was the fact that a large proportion of the audience included the city's youth—albeit a bit shy about discussing their skin problems but curious all the same. Dr. Sharad lauded the high male turnout and encouraged them to speak up about their skin problems. In response to this, a young man from the audience posed a question about a common skin problem that plagues most young people—acne.

Dr. Sharad then asked the audience about what skincare means to them. She emphasised that great skin means having clear, radiant skin, which always starts with the basics. The basis of perfect skin lies in good skincare practices, which include cleansing, toning, moisturising and using sunscreen.
Myths about laser treatments

Once the basics are taken care of, further skin improvements can be made with the use of laser technology. Dr. Sharad busted common misconceptions about laser treatments such as 'the skin burns after treating it with laser' or that 'laser harms the body's organs'. She assured the audience that laser is skin-deep only (with the patient's eyes kept protected while the treatment is on) and is far from harmful provided that a qualified professional conducts the treatment. "A trained, qualified doctor will first examine your skin type and check the laser setting," she explained. However, one must follow good skincare practices to maintain the laser-treated skin at its optimum health, she added. Along with topical skin protection like sunscreen, one should also keep a close eye on their diet and lifestyle. "Avoid eating sugar and processed foods," advised Dr. Sharad to an audience that giggled awkwardly. "Include meditation, yoga or singing in your lifestyle," she added further.

Is laser hair removal safe?

In response to a question about whether it is safe to use laser for removing facial hair on men who shave regularly, Dr. Sharad said, "Laser can be safely used on facial hair, with the exception of grey or white hair—laser does not work on grey hair." She reiterated that safe, high-quality laser hair removal machines (such as the ones by Alma) have given her successful and consistent results.
Regarding a query about getting rid of dark patches when one is already suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Dr. Sharad said that once the PCOS is treated, the laser will do its job and work wonders. However, she recommended women beyond the age of 30 years to get their hormones checked as hormonal imbalance causes the hair to grow back.

Laser hair removal also eliminates the need for threading the upper lip and chin areas, the only requirement being that one should not employ waxing for a period of four weeks prior to laser hair removal to ensure the hair root is intact.

Dr. Dhepe carried the discussion further by saying that it is easier to go in for laser hair removal early on, as post 40-45 years, the presence of grey or white hair will prevent the laser from doing its job.

Addressing pigmentation

Dr. Dhepe then steered the discussion towards pigmentation—a grey area that leaves many of us flummoxed. While the dazzling audio-visual for Clear Lift, a laser treatment by Alma, left the audience spellbound, Dr. Dhepe adopted a no-frills approach to explain how laser works on pigmentation.
After explaining the technicalities, he stated that being stringent about controlling weight, eliminating carbohydrates, increasing the intake of antioxidants found in green leafy vegetables, carrots and beet, reducing stress, hydrating the skin and protecting it from the sun go a long way in ensuring that the pigmentation reduction treatment is long-lasting.
Dr. Dhepe then addressed a few questions received via email as well as from the audience on topics like ultraviolet radiation, sunscreen, exfoliation, de-tanning and more. When a member of the audience protested how sunscreen can prevent one from reaping the benefits of vitamin D, Dr. Dhepe replied good-humouredly, "At least, protect your face from the sun." He also gave several more tips like using a scarf to protect oneself in the sun, as ultraviolet radiation (which also emits from a computer screen, light bulb and even a gas stove!) is one of the biggest factors resulting in uneven pigmentation.

Lastly, the skin doctor educated the audience on how fairness creams are abused in a country like India. "Most of these creams are steroid creams, which make the face sensitive, red and ultimately result in the skin not responding to the creams," he said. He particularly cautioned the audience against wrong advice doled out by beauticians and chemists who are not educated in dermatology. He emphasised that pigmentation reduction by laser can help the skin to become one shade brighter and vibrant, provided the patient takes good care of his/her skin at home. "After that, a week spent on the beaches of Goa will bring you back to your natural colour," he added with a chuckle.

Understanding body contouring

The final session of the workshop was conducted by Dr. Vinod Vij, who helped shed light on body contouring, a procedure that reduces excess fat that remains after losing a huge amount of weight. Dr. Vij started the session with asking the audience what they understand by body image and how both positive and negative body image can affect our lives.
He then explained how various techniques like lipolysis (which is minimally invasive), breast augmentation and buttock lift work. Similar to the other skin doctors, Dr. Vij also stressed on the need to look after oneself by exercising regularly to lose excess fat while paying close attention to one's diet, before one decides to go in for a body contouring treatment. "Body contouring is not the same as weight loss," he emphasised.

While addressing queries about body contouring, Dr. Vij explained that liposuction results in a couple of temporary side effects such as abrasion and bruising. Moreover, the patient is required to wear a corset for 're-draping' the skin for some time till the body gets back in shape. The brighter side, he explained, is that there is no age limit for body contouring. "Even a 70-year-old can do it," he exclaimed.

A live demonstration
As the workshop drew to an end, Dr. Dhepe invited a volunteer from the audience to experience first-hand laser hair removal. The procedure was displayed on a big screen for everyone to observe and shed any previously-held inhibitions. The sheer joy and surprise noted on the face of the volunteer post the procedure spoke volumes about how painless, quick and efficient laser hair removal can be. Nothing like a live demonstration to prove that it's not all lip service!

Watch this space
It's not all over yet! Keep an eye out for the final edition of dna Alma Lasers' Vibrant Forever Workshop to be held at a location near you.