surprising increase in the figures of men spending time at clinics

Time and again, elders and considerate friends have reassured us that beauty is only skin deep. There is a discernable shift from beauty being related to only "fairness" to healthy skin. The latest trend in the beauty business is the focus on flawless glowing SKIN. Skin care has come a long way from cold cream applications and snow, to cleansing, toning, lightening, anti scar/wrinkle etc. The beauty business in India is growing rapidly with lots of women and a surprising increase in the figures of men spending time at clinics, spas and salons.

Cosmetology and skin care are specialized fields where the person who handles the use of various esthetic related procedures must be very well trained and well read about skin from the medical point of view. Misuse and improper use of the same could lead to undesirable outcomes. Not knowing the chemical formulations of substances, the accurate percentage for mixing various products and to further complicate matter the various skin types facing the technician, any error can have disastrous results. Cosmetic and beauty related treatments are an extension of Dermatology. Any of the skin/beauty treatments requires the skill and deep knowledge in tandem. There has to be a perfect blend of technology, as in equipments, products used and of course the hand that handles them both is highly trained and experienced. This knowledge and experience also comes in handy in case of handling emergencies which may arise.

As mentioned earlier skin and beauty business in India is growing multi-fold. Add to this the continuous developments of hi-tech equipments and the newer generation drugs hitting the market at a very rapid pace. Treatments like Dermabrasion, Laser treatment, botox, fillers, newer peels etc. are done using very advanced equipments. Quacks/spas do invest in these products as to keep in pace with the latest trends. Many mishaps do take place due to the lack of knowledge and expertise to handle these equipments / products. Most spas may give various fancy named treatments which are thoroughly pampering but gives the clients nothing beyond that.

To add to the above mentioned complexities, many companies are supplying a variety of spurious creams, concoctions to these salons at a very attractive and more often than not at wholesale rates. Some of these products are cheap imitations and duplications of the more superior and tested but expensive products. This leads to further aggravation of the already delicate situation.

Many a times many a skin conditions which a layman would conceive as purely an esthetic problem may be a manifestation of an internal systemic disorder or sometimes a side effect of certain medication. A dermatologist then again has an expertise of diagnosing the same.

To conclude dermatologist apart from treating various medical skin disorders do have an upper hand in the world of cosmetology owing to a better understanding of skin anatomy, physiology and pathology and also a complete in depth knowledge of various technologies ,their limitations and handling of any accidental undesirables effects of the same.