DAMAGE CONTROL: A dermatology treatment session in progress

I am looking for a dermatologist. I have sensitive and fair skin with lots of broken capillaries, mild scarring and more wrinkles than I should for my age. I would love a product or procedure that would address some of these issues??

Sun damaged skin, scarring and wrinkles on face, skin cancer, acne, warts and moles, multiple inflammatory dermatoses, sebaceous cysts, ulcers, and other dermatological and venereal diseases ?these problems and many more are dealt with by dermatologists. Dermatology is a specialised field of medicine concerned with treating disorders and diseases related to nail, hair and skin. It also caters to all the needs of practitioners concerned with progress in research related to skin, clinical dermatology and therapy.

What do i have to do?

The work profile of a dermatologist is to diagnose diseases causing skin problems and then provide medical treatment to cure the affected area.

Dermatology has become one of the most sought-after specialities among medical students these days. New advancements in this specialised field of medicine have now replaced old therapies. The trend of improving and enhancing physical appearance with the help of medical treatment has blurred the distinction between dermatology and cosmetology.

Chemical peels, laser treatments, laser hair removal, scar shaping, anti-ageing techniques, beauty enhancers, dietetics, weight control etc, which were once primarily the purview of spas and beauty clinics, are now common offerings at many dermatologists? clinics. Doctors are even opening their own spas, lending their names to various product lines, and endorsing products detailing methods that allegedly keep skin youthful.

Accordingly, a new term ?cosmeceutical? has emerged as an area in which medical practices are applied for cosmetic improvement. Various products are available in the market as cosmetics that have biologically active ingredients, which are effective and safe to use.

More and more companies are investing billions in this sector, including Estee Lauder, Avon, L?Oreal, Revlon, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer. Nicholas Piramal India (NPIL) has entered into a strategic alliance with Laboratories Pierre Fabre, a French pharma major, to manufacture and market a range of dermatology and dermo-cosmetic products in India.

What should i study?

You should have passed your Plus-Two with physics, chemistry and biology to pursue an MBBS. Following this, you can specialise in dermatology and will be granted a degree of MD in dermatology.

What next?

Many international companies like L?Oreal International and Lakme as well as beauty clinics like VLCC, Shahnaz Hussain, and hair salons like Habib?s, Cavin Kare etc. are coming up with new, fresh and trendy techniques to attract customers.

They employ specialists in different fields like hair stylists, fashion experts, skin advisors, nutritionists and dermatologists. Everyone today wants to seek professional advice for any skin problem rather than approaching beauty clinics that do not offer professional guidance. A cosmetic dermatologist is in a better position to diagnose certain skin and hair problems and advise as to what remedial or rectifying measures need to be taken.

Dr Reddy?s has acquired Trigenesis Therapeutics Inc., a US-based privately owned dermatology company with a strong presence in skin-care. Dr Reddy?s is upbeat about the prospects of these lucrative markets. Dr Morepen too is now focussing on dermatology and is set to launch a number of products in this segment over the next three years.

You can work as a consultant in hospitals and clinics. Self-employment is another promising avenue in this field. After gaining experience, you can start your own individual practice. The popularity of cosmetic dermatology will continue to rise as long as the obsession with improving physical appearance remains a top social priority. As a dermatologist, you will be required to add value by innovating and experimenting new scientific ways of medical treatment in this ?new age? field.

Where to study

• Department of Dermatology, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine

• University College of Medicine, Calcutta

• All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

• Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi

• Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (deemed university), Chennai