Time is everyone’s natural enemy. In a world ever obsessed with nullifying the very effects of time, reversing ageing, and looking evergreen and fresh, the emergence of cosmeceuticals and aesthetic medical solutions to these problems is a trend that has swept across nations gaining popularity by the day. Through the use of chemicals and procedures that have been proven to be beneficial for the human skin, the cosmeceutical and derma practice today allows for people to better take care of their skin and maintain their ever-youthful exuberance.
Leading the cosmeceutical and aesthetic dermatology wave in the country is one of Nepal’s most recognizable faces in the dermatology field, having set up and aced her practices across multiple hospitals, Dr Prativa Shrestha today emerges as one of the leading doctors in the field that provides optimum aesthetic and pathological dermatology care for all that opt for it.” While Pathological Dermatology is a very skin disease oriented practice, aesthetic dermatology is amore niche practice that focuses on the external appearance of a person.” says Dr Prativa.
Completing 12 years as a dermatologist, Dr Prativa initially started out as a regular student in Nepal pursuing the fabled Doctor profession, “I think I was always naturally drawn to the stethoscope and the white coat,” Shrestha reminisces. While the study of dermatology fills up a mere 2 week course time in the MBBS degree, the whole skin practise always piqued her interest. “When I used to see the models and the stunning actresses defying ageing I wanted to understand more how it occurred and hence I ended up becoming a dermatologist.” she adds.
After the completion of her MBBS from Dhaka, Bangladesh and her MD from Nepal, Shrestha began her own practice in Nepal from Vayodhya Hospital. “At the time Vayodhya was new and so was I, it was the perfect fit,” Shrestha reminisces. After setting up an extremely successful practice in Vayodhya, Dr Prativa then moved to Mediciti, where she yet again took the Dermatology practice to the pinnacle. And years after she joined the two hospitals, she began her own personal clinic in Jawalakhel, named Clinic One.
While in conversation about the types of skin South Asians have and the problems they're prone to Dr Shrestha says, “Having dealt with a plethora of skin conditions in my career, the more common ones I can see in Nepalese are skin pigmentations. Issues such as Melasma and Old Age Spots (wrinkles) are more severe in patients. While old age reversals are not as complicated, Melasma can take years to treat, but if done properly these dermatological conditions are very curable. Along with these you also have your general acne and scar treatments that I mostly perform,” elaborates Shrestha.
The concept of Aesthetic Skincare is still a rather new concept, but Shretsha believes that due to Social Media and an overall aware generation of people growing up, skincare has come more into the limelight than say it was a decade ago. “Aesthetic Dermatology is definitely a choice you must make, if home remedies are working for you that's amazing, but for more long-lasting medically sound results that are way more pronounced and visible I think consulting a dermatologist is the best way to go!” adds Shrestha.
The concerns that the use of skincare products might not be too economical to the most of the Nepali Public who need to care about more basic needs and to whom skincare is more of a luxury to them are completely valid. Agreeing with the plight, Dr Prativa mentions that skincare in the modern world doesn't necessarily have to be expensive serums and creams as the products available in the market are rather economical and provide similar benefits for the skin.
Another point of skepticism that comes hand in hand with the cosmeceutical world is the side effects these products have in the long run, to this Dr Shrestha says that these adverse effects depend on the products one uses. “The problem isn't that these products may have side effects but that the people use the wrong products, if one were to properly understand their skin, consult a dermatologist and get the proper medication prescribed and performed unto them then there is virtually no side effect that can be seen. For example Botox, if not done regularly and in a proper medically prescribed manner then it might have adverse effects, but if done regularly in a medically sound manner then it yields extraordinary results without any side effects whatsoever,” she explains.
When asked what the base-level of skincare should look like amongst any Nepalese in the country Dr Prativa says,
“First of all Antioxidants are very important, the use of Vitamin C and moisturizers on your skin along with daily face washes and regular use of sunscreen is the bare minimum one must do to take care of the delicate organ that is one’s skin.”
Revealing her skincare routine behind her ever-glowing skin, Dr Shrestha states, “In the morning I use any sort of foaming facewash. It is then followed by my Anti Oxidant a CE Ferulic Combination based serum then Hyaluronic Acid based serum with peptides all of which help keep my skin rejuvenated and in prime conditions, I also use sunscreens and in the evening use a retinol based serum instead.”
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