A dermats’ detour to skin care during COVID times

Most skin damage comes from exposure to sunlight and environmental toxins. Research also shows that blue light from electronic devices can lead to changes in skin cells. In the current scenario, Aesthetic Medicine India, in association with US-based Orange Daily, recently organised a webinar on ‘A dermats’ detour to skin care during COVID times’.

With a robust panel consisting experienced aesthetic medicine practitioners, the webinar attended to questions such as:

• How does a dermatologist approach his/her patients?

• What changes can be done in the prescription and what are the important steps to maintain skin health?

• What is the role that antioxidants can play orally and topically for the skin and hair?

• Are there any new skin care regimens for post COVID patients?

Moderated by Dr Soma Sarkar, Dermatologist and Aesthetic Physician, Dr Soma’s Aesthetic Clinic and Academy; the panelists included Dr Narmada Matang, Dermatologist, Neo Skin Aesthetics; Dr Pradnya Manwatkar, Head of Cosmetic Dermatology and Emodermatology, Skin Matra Clinic; Dr Rickson Pereira, Consultant Dermatologist and Head, Dr Rickson’s Dermatherapie Clinic, and Consultant Dermatologist, Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai; and Dr Rupali Pavaskar, Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist and Trichologist, Dr Rupali Pavaskar’s Clinic & Transforme Dermo-Cosmetic Center, Thane.

Excerpts from the discussion:

• COVID can lead to nutritional deficiency and hair fall. Suggestion: Immediate lifestyle changes including a proper sleep pattern.

• The COVID vaccine has been resulting into skin problems such as articularia including unusual kind of pigmentation, and fine bleeding into the skin.

• Patient care is important, and it is important to put a routine in place as well. For instance, offering an acne care routine in the case of acne; a dry skin care routine in the case of dry skin care; coconut oil can be the go to product for atopic dermatitis due to its natural moisturising factor.

• Vitamin C, both orally and locally, has worked wonders for patients. It is always a combination – it could be Vitamin C with E with arabinose or various other peptides along with it. It could also be combined with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) or moisturizers of the level.

• Further, a combination for polypodium leucotomos has given wonderful results but unfortunately that molecule has been taken off the shelf. Hence, in recent times, dermatologists have been combining astaxanthin with Vitamin C. This is a good combination and improves collagen levels in the body. For patients who are unable to control their hair fall with regular supplements, they are showing wonderful results with collagen.

• It is also the antioxidants in the supplement such as some have arginine and glucosamine and sodium hyaluronate along with vitamin C that work best. Collagen has to be given in sufficient quantity – atleast 5-10 grams a day – as it acts as a protein. Vitamin C helps in boosting collagen.

• Vitamin C works wonders when taken orally and it can be the go to product for every dermatologist.