Dr. Jamuna Pai has spent the last twenty years being the one that A-list Bollywood stars, top industrialists and Miss Indias have turned to for their skin problems. She has also pioneered the skincare movement in this country, being the first to introduce many techniques to India to include Botox, medi-facials, aesthetic peels as well as the Spanish brightening peel. Dr. Jamuna Pai has written a book ‘NO ONE HAS TO KNOW’ that compiles the best in skin care and hair care.
Dr Pai has answered some of the most common skin and hair care related questions exclusively for the readers of Pout Pretty. Here goes..
What skincare regime should be followed in the 20’s, 30’s and above 40’s? What precautions to take to avoid fine lines and wrinkles?
Women in their 20’s…..
While in their mid-20’s, women need a good maintenance regime for a healthy glowing skin unless they are facing problems such as acne, oily skin, hairfall and dandruff which are fairly common in the 20’s. This is the age group where one is susceptible to fall prey to certain bad practices such as irregular food habits, bad lifestyle, etc. it is important to counteract the damages done due to these by eating right, sleeping for at least 7 hours, consuming minimum of 2 litres of water daily. The late 20s are today considered as the 30s of a decade ago. It is the best time to start using a mild repair agent such as tretinoin or retinol on your skin at night (best used under guidance of a physician).
Women in their 30’s……
For the women in the 30’s, skin care is less about correction and more of prevention as this is a time when not only your skin but even your body goes through a lot of changes. In your 30’s, the skin does not repair as fast as it did in your 20’s. The rate at which the new skin cells are produced slows down and the activity of the oil glands also decreases. As a result the skin starts to look dull, patchy, dry and the fine lines and wrinkles start appearing as early as in the 30’s. Botox can be done for such cases depending on the genetic makeup and severity of the lines.
Women in their 40’s…..
For women in their 40’s, it is time to reverse the signs of ageing. The fine lines noticed earlier become more intense, there is volume loss on the face associated with lose skin due to the loss of elasticity. Here one needs to go for treatments which are specific for the indications that bother you. Skin firming treatments along with Botox and fillers can help erase signs of aging in a very subtle way ”
What is the most effective solution against ageing?
Protection from Sunlight
UV rays are one of the most significant contributors towards skin ageing (photo ageing) and by far one of the things that you can not avoid. It therefore is most essential to protect your skin by using strict sun protection. Apply a thick coat of sunscreen with SPF 30 or more a minimum of 2- 3 times daily irrespective of your skin type, age, gender and the climate!
Live stress free
Stress is an inevitable part of our lives. This again accelerates our ageing process. We cannot run away from the stress but by managing to handle the stressful situations, we can help lessen the damages caused by it on our skin and health. Engage yourself in any form of activity that YOU like, exercising, listening to music, going for a walk or a zumba class, spending time with your close friends, sometimes even shopping, or gardening or any other relaxation technique will help decrease your stress levels and increase your ability to cope with the situation and thereby lessen the damage caused due to stress.- basically fun activities which release the ‘happy’ hormone.
Get the right amount of exercise
Importance of exercise for health and fitness is a well known, well established fact. Exercise helps improve the skin health too is a lesser known fact. With exercise your heart rate increases which increases the blood supply to the skin against resistance and we all know how we look ‘flushed’ and ‘pink’ after a good workout.
Topical creams
One could choose products containing alpha hydroxy acids, Vitamin C, azaelic acid, hyaluronic gel & retinol. Keep in mind to go for gel based products if your skin is oily and cream based products if you have a dry skin. These are to be left on the face overnight and always remember that ‘less is more’.
Ageing doesn’t happen overnight, with the right care and medical guidance it can be controlled and delayed
In summer, my skin becomes very oily and I start getting a lot of pimples. What is the best way to treat acne and what care should I take?
Acne can be due to age, hormonal changes, genes and lifestyle. For severe and persistent acne, consulting a dermatologist is important. Acne can be treated only once the severity is determined. Basic treatments that one can follow are:
- Clean ups, Cleansing and Mild Exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and excess oil.
- Topical Applications can be applied such as benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoids
- Exercising for 3o minutes in a day that helps in blood circulation
- A diet rich in antioxidants (deep coloured fruits and vegetables) and the right proportions of proteins, carbohydrates, fat and vitamin sources works at scavenging the free radicals (toxins) that cause disease and ageing.
- Not drinking enough water and not getting enough sleep are also your skin’s enemies.
- Just like it affects every other aspect of your health, stress levels also affect the skin and can lead to breakouts, pigmentation, premature ageing etc. Though stress levels are at most times not something we can control, they can definitely be balanced out by making sure you spend some time on yourself either meditating or practicing yoga, or indulging in a positive extra-curricular hobby like dance or music; anything that makes you happy and stress-free even for a little while each day.
Acne Marks
- Acne though not harmful, does leave behind scars that do not reflect healthy skin. With the passage of time, these marks fade naturally but can deepen due to the overexposure to sun.
- Use a prescription that will help fade the marks, and see the dermatologist for the corrective treatments for the skin post acne.
- Under the advice of a doctor, a mild microdermabrasion (skin polishing) or a very mild lactic acid peel done just once can lighten the marks. The marks can then be concealed with a concealer. Always use a concealer which is water resistant.
How to prevent pigmentation and brown spots on the skin?
Genetic Predisposition
- While we cannot control our genes we can definitely keep a check on our hormonal changes, vitamin and mineral deficiency and blood sugar levels.
- Visit your doctor for routine check-up; eat a well-rounded diet along with the appropriate fluid intake.
- Find out ways in which you can correct the abnormal hormonal behaviours and diseases you could be prone to owing to the genetic built up of your body.
Overexposure to sunlight
- Limited amount of morning sun is essential for a healthy dose of Vitamin D, anything beyond that will only accelerate melanin production and ageing process.
- Use a sunscreen best suited to your skin type, with enough SPF to protect the skin from the UV rays
Stress
- Most modern day health issues are directly or indirectly related to stress. Overthinking or hyperactivity can come in your way of achieving a healthy complexion.
- Practice breathing exercises, and discipline yourself to avoid the harsh effects of stress.
Pollution
- The increasing smoke built up in urban areas combined with omnipresent dust and bacteria, leaves the skin lifeless.
- The ever growing pollutants also make the sun rays harsh by weakening the ozone layer. Though pollution isn’t completely escapable, its effects can be controlled with face cleansers, use preventive day and night creams, scrubs for the skin
What do I do to get rid of the oily roots and frizzy ends?
Scalp being an extension of your facial skin can be greasy and sticky in cases of overproduction of sebum as a result of hormone disturbances, stress, hot, humid atmosphere, perspiration or even diet rich in saturated fat. Accumulation of sebum, dirt, grime results in sticky dandruff. To prevent and keep dandruff under control, hygiene is utmost important, which should include washing your hair clean regularly. Once in a week use a medicated anti-dandruff shampoo. Lemon juice/vinegar helps in preventing and treating dandruff. Apply vinegar on your scalp for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it off. This tip is suitable for all types of hair. Also washing your hair with triphala powder helps in keeping the scalp clean and dry and thus in turn prevents dandruff.
Is laser safe to remove facial hair?
Today laser hair removal is one of the most sought after treatment to reduce the hair from all unwanted areas, including the face. If performed under all safety guidelines by a trained medical professional, do not worry about any side effects, except a little redness on the area treated, which settles down in a couple of hours. Please remember that the laser treatment is always “reduction” of hair and not permanent hair removal, provided the cause which causes the excess facial hair is under control usually with the hormones. A series of treatments is spaced over a number of weeks in order to destroy the hair root in all its 3 growth cycles. Hair can initially grow back, however it will be thinner and lighter. The facial hair needs to be examined by the doctor who is going to perform the treatment and he/she will be the best judge to tell you how much reduction you could expect.
Is there any way to prevent premature greying of hair?
There is no specific medication available in the market as yet to reverse grey hair and also to prevent further greying of hair. It is usually hereditary. You can have a supplement of Calcium panthotenate along with Biotin(vitamin pills) to have healthy hair and delay the premature greying. There are a few home remedies which could help you.
- Mix approximately 1 gm of black pepper powder to a small bowl of curd and apply this paste once a week and wash off in half an hour.
- Boil tea leaves in water, strain it and add 2 teaspoons of salt, leave it on the hair for 1 hour and wash off with warm water.
- Besides this, you can also apply henna to your hair. It will help to cover the grey hair as well as condition your hair.
Dark circles are a perennial problem. I have tried many eye creams but nothing works. What should I do?
Dark circles occur due to various reasons, heredity being one of the primary reasons for it. Lack of good sleep, sleeping late, wrong eating habits, not drinking enough water i.e. 8 to 10 glasses of water per day, long hours of work in front of the computer, long hours of watching television, not wearing spectacle despite being advised to wear them, low haemoglobin, stress are other factors which account for the under eye darkening which cannot be treated with external applications. This pigmentation can be lightened with mild lightening agents containing kojic acid, Vitamin C, glycolic acid. Also using a sunblock 2-3 times a day is necessary. These treatments are safe and definitely help the pigmentation of melanin origin. Remember that the undereye skin is sensitive and ‘thin’. Do not rub the area hard. Work on reducing the other causative factors.
How safe is botox?
Botox is a naturally occurring purified protein and it is a known fact that systemic poisoning does not occur with Botox. Even something as simple as a tablet of Aspirin in the wrong hands could be fatal. In any procedure, whether it is a beauty salon treatment or a high end treatment like Botox, you always have to seek a medical practitioner who is experienced, qualified and whose name you have heard through word of mouth and not just through advertisements. Remember ‘Botox” injections is a science and therefore side effects of Botox occur only when it is injected into “WRONG MUSCLES” and can lead to a drop in the brow or eyelid, shift of smile, shooting up of the eyebrows. This side effect reverses with time and is definitely not permanent. As with any injection, side effects are possible with Botox injections also, however, not everyone who takes it will experience it. These could just be something like soreness at the injection site or bruising. But again it is due to the injecting technique and not due to Botox. Do remember that there is no systemic poisoning with Botox!!
Thank you so much Dr Pai for answering our questions. For more inputs on skincare, hair care and beauty, do check out Dr Pai’s book No One Has To Know.
Raji says
Very useful post.. I am 26 and my doc has prescribed mild topical retino A for acne and scars.. Happy that i am following something that is good.. I still need to work on the “exercise” part.. Thanks to Poutpretty for this post!
Raji recently posted…Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Color Mademoiselle Review, Swatch, LOTD and Dupe Alert!
Dolon says
My pleasure Raji :..Glad you found the post useful
Beepsa says
Her tips are really so helpful. I had a bad case of acne and a dermatologist rather than home remedies and various other tips that I read online helped me to get rid of it. So for skin problems it is always best to seek professional help. Dr. Jamuna Pai’s tips are so so helpful…
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Dolon says
Absolutely. Always better to rely on expert advice than experiment!