We talked to Dr. Sravya C Tipirneni about some of the most common questions about skincare and she helped us understand more about our own skin.
Health maybe only associated with the body and having healthy food keeps it in check. But another thing that needs the same amount or more care is our skin. We often tend to ignore it and stick to a common routine that we found somewhere sometime back. We take little or no effort to know what works for us and what does not. There are always 10 different ways and solutions that people find when searching for it online, leaving us with more confusion than with a single solution. So, Dr. Sravya C Tipirneni, Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetologist at Manipal Hospital, Bangalore helps us understand some of the most common issues and questions that people have regarding skin.
Dr. Sravya C Tipirneni initially wanted to become a gynecologist but while preparing for her entrance exams, she had the opportunity to work under a renowned dermatologist who introduced her to a whole different world of dermatology. She was taught all the procedures including lasers and aesthetic procedures right after my pre-med school. Soon Dr. Sravya found herself getting drawn to know about the same and focused on studying more about it.
This interest in this branch grew and she decided to passionately follow dermatology, cosmetology, trichology, and aesthetic medicine. It was her interest and the idea of helping people in becoming their best versions that drives her to continue her work. While talking about the field of dermatology, cosmetology, and trichology, Dr. Sravya mentioned that there are a bunch of misconceptions, mistakes, and issues that people commonly face. And we decided to list these common questions.
How important is it for people to follow a good skincare routine?
People usually suddenly remember a skincare routine when something goes wrong. Like someone with acne will suddenly want to follow a skincare routine that they never did earlier. However, these days there is awareness around preventive skincare and anti-aging skincare has evolved and people are more conscious and understand the importance of starting everything early in life and they see the results that come from it.
As a dermatologist, what are the most common questions that people have regarding skincare?
The most common questions include how to make your skin brighter; how do you remove tan? how do you grow more hair and thicker hair on the scalp? how do you control hair loss? how do you stop getting pimples? They ask us about all kinds of home remedies. A lot of people ask for a regular skincare routine for anti-aging. These days more people are interested in botox and fillers and the use of lasers of different kinds is also extremely popular now that people are more educated about biomedical devices.
What are the basic skincare mistakes that people should avoid?
The most basic skincare mistake is doing too many things all at once and expecting magical results without any adverse effects. I believe in a simplistic and minimalistic skin routine that can be extremely easy to follow and practically useful. You don't have to buy very expensive products and expect magical results. I find that this is the issue with most people being disappointed by using things that are marketed online.
Please consult your dermatologist to understand what you need at your age and for your skin type and then start from there and have a plan in mind.
With masks being an important part, are there any tips to avoid acne/blemishes or skin irritation caused by them?
When we wear a mask, we should avoid very thick moisturizers under the covered area. For acne-prone or oily skin, sunscreen should be avoided under The Mask. Do not use greasy serums and greasy thick moisturizers containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid just because some blogger said so. It might not suit your skin and most of the breakouts I've been seeing this past two years are due to this.
We have heard many people talk about the benefits of jade roller and gua sha. Are these really beneficial? If yes, what are the benefits?
Most of the claimed benefits are actually false, there is no medical proof for research that claims that these tools can actually anti-age skin. You can ask anyone who has had botox, they will tell you the exact difference between tools that have a feel-good factor to them and medical-grade procedures that actually make a visible difference.
These tools are only for increasing circulation and massaging purposes. They do not have any long-term benefits with wrinkles or brightening of the skin or anything else that they claim.
Which products are supposed to be applied during the daytime and which products are meant for nighttime?
The daytime should include a very light moisturizer may be one antioxidant along with the sunscreen. The nighttime routine should include good cleansing and serum with actives. The anti-aging regime with retinol should always be done at bedtime as they are light sensitive.
Which skincare ingredients can be combined together and which shouldn't be?
Too many exfoliants should never be combined. The Alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids should be used carefully in minimal combinations depending on the type of skin. Too much hydroquinone, retinol, and salicylic acid can cause irritation, peeling, and blemishes on the skin.
Can you suggest any DIY tips for anti-aging and getting rid of wrinkles and pigmentation?
Unfortunately, there are no home remedies for anti-aging or wrinkles but pigmentation to a certain extent can be taken care of by eating a good diet rich in antioxidants. This generally helps with anti-aging and increases collagen production as well. This can delay aging but can't stop it. The main factors here are lifestyle habits, diet, and sleep which go a long way in delaying aging, wrinkles, and pigmentation issues. Most people have found certain home remedies such as potato juice or diluted essential oils helpful in pigmentation and acne. Lactic acid can be used in the form of dahi as a face pack as well. Honey and sugar form a gentle scrub for my exfoliation once weekly as well.
We have heard many people talk about Kumkumadi oil, is it really beneficial? If yes, what are the benefits?
Yes, it is a very moisturizing and brightening oil and if you do not have acne-prone skin it can be used. I would not recommend oily skin. The basic rule is that you cannot put any oily substance on already oily acne-prone skin.
What kind of anti-aging products would you recommend and at what age should people start using them?
Anti-aging products that are USFDA approved and have excellent results are retinol. These are available in different formulations and everybody can start using them after the age of 28. The kind of retinol that I prescribe and the formulation depends on the type of skin of the patient and the other concerns which are spoken about.
How important is toner in one's skincare regime?
A toner is a choice in one's skincare regime. It is not an essential part of the regime like a moisturizer. If you choose to use a toner it could be a hydrating one or one with an astringent action for the pores. I personally don't even use a toner and my skin is fine.
If you have any more skincare queries, reach out to her on her Instagram.
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