Dr.Jaishree Sharad - Skin Care is definitely for everyone, regardless of their age, gender, or skin type.

Dr. Jaishree Sharad is an Internationally renowned cosmetic dermatologist practicing in Mumbai for 23 years with the A-listers of Bollywood, politics, and cricket as her clientele.

She was the first ever and the only Indian faculty to speak at the prestigious plenary session at the annual conference of the American Society of Dermatologic Society in Denver in Oct this year.

She is a TEDx speaker and a highly acclaimed International faculty for aesthetic dermatology.

She is the author of three books, including the award-winning bestseller Skin Rules and Skin Talks, both of which were launched by Shri Amitabh Bachchan. 

Dr Jaishree is the founder of Skinfinitii Aesthetic Skin and Laser Clinics, in Mumbai, India. She has been the only Indian Board of Directors of the International Society of Dermatologic Surgery.

Dr. Jaishree is a mentor for the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

She has been the Vice President of the Cosmetic Dermatology Society of India from 2010 – 2017. She is a popular name on radio, TV, and digital as well as print media.

Amongst her many awards, she has also been awarded Top 10 cosmetic dermatologists as women entrepreneurs in India, 2022”, “Women of Worth, Loreal Paris, 2022, “And Best Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist of India “ in July 2020. Best Skin Expert, Vogue 2022, Best Skin Expert Vogue 2016, Best Skin Expert, Elle 2016, Outstanding Women of 2017.   

She has delivered over 600 lectures at International and National platforms and written over 50 cosmetic dermatology textbook chapters and journal manuscripts and is a highly respected name in the academic field.

Question 1: Tell us about your background and journey

I believe that obstacles are opportunities for learning and growth. I have faced hardships since childhood, as my parents struggled to provide for us while also ensuring we received a good education. Despite experiencing tough times, I became a stronger and more focused person. Our family went without food, wore the same clothes for years, and couldn't always afford first handbooks or ever celebrate my birthdays.

After completing my MBBS in 1995, I married my husband who was earning a meagre salary of Rs 6000 per month. We lived simply but contentedly. Our first television, a 14-inch black and white one, was purchased through a six-month instalment plan, and we would buy ice from nearby restaurants as we didn't own a fridge. I would grind spices on a stone instead of using a mixer grinder. Despite these challenges, we remained happy.

In 1997, my mother passed away and my father's company shut down, leaving him unemployed. This added to our responsibilities, and I had to take care of my younger siblings' education. In 1999, I completed my post-graduation, but I could not afford to study cosmetic dermatology abroad. Instead, I began my practice in 2000 and worked at various clinics and hospitals. Three days a week, I would work from 9 am to 10 pm at different polyclinics, and the other three days, I would travel from Vashi to Andheri to work with my teacher at his clinic. In 2004, I applied for a scholarship to study laser surgery in Bangkok and was accepted. It was the first time I had travelled abroad, and it was a dream come true. I later pursued a second fellowship in cosmetic dermatology from Miami.

I opened my clinic, Skinfiniti, in 2006, and worked long hours from 9 am to 11 pm for years to achieve my goals. My mother always said to never give up on my dreams and to work hard and be honest. I took her advice to heart and persevered, and eventually, everything fell into place.

Question 2: Tell us about your book, how did you get inspired for it? Were there any hurdles you faced?

Honestly, I was approached by my editor to write this book. Penguin had approached me for the previous 2 books skin talks and skin rules too and both were best sellers. During the lockdown, I used to do an Instagram live session on my Instagram page every day and answer a lot of skin and hair-related queries. Once a week I would also do the ask me series on my Instagram stories. The editor of Penguin saw this and asked me to write this 3rd book since I was anyway imparting so much knowledge on social media. I'm all over the idea for some time and finally took it up since there was a lot of misinformation on skin care being churned out day in and day out by non-professionals. 

I started doing an ask-me session once a week on each topic that you see in this book. I compiled all the questions per topic and wrote the answers to them. Hence the book has happened due to my Instagram followers since all the questions are legit from my ask-me stories and DMs. 

The only hurdle life used was the paucity of time since I had to complete writing chapters on Botox and filler injections for the face foreign international textbook. Also by the time I agree to write the book lock the lockdown had ended and I had resumed work. So I had to juggle between treating patients, editing cosmetic dermatology peer-reviewed journals of which I am an associate editor, writing the textbook chapters, and making time for this book

Question 3: Tell us some skin care tips you wish you followed sooner.

I wish I had started using sunscreen from the time I was a teenager at least. I suffer from Melasma which is a hyperpigmentation disorder seen as dark brown patches on the face. I have had to take care of my skin to combat this issue. At one point, it has even reduced my self-confidence. Had I known the importance of sunscreen when I was a teenager, I wouldn’t have had to face this issue and the mental trauma associated with it.

Using sunscreen from a young age is an important step in protecting your skin from the damaging effects of the sun's UV rays. Sun exposure is the leading cause of premature aging and hyperpigmentation, and can also increase the risk of developing skin cancer.

 

I wish I had started moisturizing my hands, arms, legs, and feet and not just my face.

Hands are one of the most exposed parts of our body and are constantly exposed to environmental factors such as harsh weather, frequent hand washing, and exposure to chemicals. All of these factors can contribute to dry, cracked skin on the hands, which can be uncomfortable and even painful. Regular moisturizing can help to keep the skin on your hands soft and supple and reduce the appearance of dryness and cracking.

 

Similarly, feet can also become dry and cracked, especially if they are subjected to frequent friction or pressure from walking or standing for long periods. Dry feet can also be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious issues such as fungal infections or heel fissures. Moisturizing your feet can help to keep the skin soft and supple, reducing the risk of these issues. 

 

I wish I had focused on avoiding food with a high glycemic index. When you eat foods with a high glycemic index, such as sugary snacks, white bread, and refined grains, they cause a rapid increase in your blood sugar levels. This can trigger a process called glycation, where sugar molecules attach to proteins in your body, including collagen and elastin, which are essential for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness. Glycation can cause these proteins to become stiff and less flexible, leading to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These AGEs can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and damage to your skin cells, which can contribute to premature aging of the skin, including wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging. In addition, a diet high in sugar and high glycemic index foods can lead to insulin resistance, which can also contribute to premature aging of the skin and also cause acne.

Question 4: Do you think skincare is for everyone? What are some myths you wished would disappear?

Skincare is definitely for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or skin type. It's important to take care of your skin because it's the largest organ in your body and acts as a barrier to protect you from the environment and physical, chemical, and biological harm. Other functions of the skin are -

Sensation: The skin contains millions of nerve endings that help us sense touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.

Thermoregulation: The skin helps regulate the body's temperature by sweating and by dilating or constricting blood vessels in response to changes in temperature.

Immune defense: The skin contains immune cells that help protect the body against infections and other pathogens.

Vitamin D synthesis: The skin is capable of synthesizing vitamin D from sunlight, which is essential for bone health and other bodily functions.

Excretion: The skin helps remove waste products from the body through sweating.

Absorption: Some substances can be absorbed through the skin, such as medications, nutrients, and toxins.

Endocrine organ: The skin is now regarded as one of the most vital endocrine organs. The skin contains equivalents of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis, and the appendages produce multiple hormones such as Vitamin D, sex steroids, retinoids, and opioids

 

Skincare is only for women or only for the beautification of oneself are complete myths.

Question 5: What makes someone a good doctor? What is the one piece of advice you’d like to give to beginners in the medical field?

My Advice to young dermatologists is to dream big, even the sky is not the limit and everything is possible if you work towards it sincerely and honestly. Make sure you work hard and keep upgrading your knowledge all the time. There is no end to learning. Also, never forget to Keep your integrity, your respect, and never forget your ethics. We are doctors and what we must have with us is empathy and compassion we should be able to help our patients to make the right decisions, rather than do a whole lot of treatments just to make money. Keep the hunger for learning alive. And most importantly stay happy. 

She can be found on social media, especially Instagram by the handle

@drjaishreesharad