If Cleopatra were to be alive today and met this doctor with the peaches and cream complexion , she would be seething with jealousy, and then succumbed and become her patient anyway. Because what bathing in milk cannot do, Dr Kiran Sethi Lohia, celeb dermatologist can do.  After having  transformed countless patients, she continues to weave magic from her clinic in New Delhi ( Isya Aesthetics ) where she offers the worlds best innovations in skin and hair care.Here , she takes time out to chat with Cage Your Age on skin care and busting a few myths.

 You are a New York trained dermatologist , what is the basic difference in skincare in India vs the west ?
In India, awareness is just starting to catch on because there are so many options to choose from- ayurveda, homeopathy, grandmas kitchen recipes and even neighbours give you advice. And people advise you with so much of confidence you have no idea whats true and not !
In the west , its all data driven, you know what exactly you are getting since the system is cleaner and simpler. You have to learn how to mix and match, you can still try a kitchen remedy but you know it won’t get rid of acne overnight. You might as well go to a doctor and get medicated because that is ultimately going to work.

We are curious, what does a dermatologist do to take care of herself ?

I’m very particular when it comes to my skin care routine and I change it every 3 months. . If I try anything new I always try only one product in a week , never more than that . Since my job requires that I try new things all the time, I am particular about not letting my patients try anything that I haven’t tested.

Morning- 

Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquiity Cleansing Balm
Dr. Jart V7 Radiance Serum (vitamin c for brightening and anti ageing )
Avenè sunblock

Night –

Neutrogena Facial Wipes ,  Cetaphil Cleanser
Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Brightening Solution
Dr. Hauschkas Rose Day Cream to moisturise

You are probably bombarded with new products and treatments. Which products and treatments impressed you the most in the year 2017?
Most impressive products- Sunday Riley CEO cream.
I like the ROC retinol serum– which they introduced in India this year. I also love all of the Glamglow products.
Treatments – The Pixi Pico^2 is a laser treatment which works great for pigmented skin and also at fading scars – (available at Isya Aesthetics )

What kind of supplements do you take on a regular basis for general health ?
I take an iron supplement at night after dinner because of a deficiency . Mornings I take a marine collagen, or sometimes spirulina or some Vitamin C, but again all this depends on how I am feeling. I take supplements only when I need a boost and I haven’t been eating well.

What kind of supplements should women above 30 be looking at ?
I wouldn’t recommend any supplements unless its a targeted problem . I don’t like this concept of taking too many tablets and say the same to my patients. I have clients from the showbiz and sports industry who take upto 20 supplements in a day and the first thing I do , is to take them off most of it, and their skin health actually improves.
I believe that majority of our vitamins should come from the food we eat and in any case many of these supplements haven’t been shown to improve health. If you have a problem go to a doctor, you may need an iron supplement if you find your hair is dropping or a b12 supplement if you have brittle hair and feeling tired all the time, so it really depends .

 You look positively radiant in all the pics, whats your make up prep like ?
I don’t really use much make up. I feel that you should make your skin shine through instead of hiding behind foundations and powders which makes you look a bit artificial . I’d rather rely more on my peels and laser facials, and a good skin routine which makes my skin always glow .
However these are a few of the products that I do like –
I may use a concealer by L’Oreal Tru Match ( I know !! Believe me, it’s 10 times better than any high end brand) .
People who need heavy coverage can go for this brand called Dermablend – it’s really good.
I LOVE the Guerlains kohl , also the Revlon Kajal is very good. And a good Nars lipstick, thats it.
For my patients who have very sensitive skin , I highly recommend the brand called VMH Hypoallergenics , the entire range is excellent for those who have skin which reacts badly to normal make up.

 What is always in your travel bag ?
Its actually very basic but I would never travel without my face wipes, night serum , moisturiser and sun block . I stock on my Neutrogena face wipes when I go to the US but here in India I also like the Kara and Biorè wipes very much.

Which products or treatments that you came across were all hype and no action ?
Well, there were so many of them but just off my head I would say almost the entire Clinique Pore Refining Solutions range, not one of them was of any benefit whatsoever . And now this , which I know is a cult product in the market, Estee Lauder – Advanced Night Repair  serum, I found it useless. I will instead put my patient on a  cream costing 1000 rupees and they walk in the next month with awesome skin and I’m like like yay, I know !

When it comes to treatments , I’m not a fan of the derma roller. Its a huge trend but not for me, I have 2 reasons
– Something like this can have huge side effects if you mess up.
– And also you have to do atleast 10 to 20 sessions to see results. Why would you do any treatment so many times? With the technology out there, you should see results in max 3 to 4 sessions if you go for any kind of clinical treatment.

 Consumers today can buy anything from lasers , micro-derbmabrasion devices, derma planing tools, etc at the click of a button. How safe are these to use at home ?
Let me start with the laser. This is one device nobody should be buying and experimenting with at home. The machine has to be operated at low energy and if you go wrong with this , it can instead stimulate more hair growth. It comes with the same set of instructions for the whole world, but technically your skin may need some other specifics which only an expert will know. It disturbs me that such devices are openly sold.
Microdermabrasion is fine, in fact I myself tell my patients to go buy a Clarisonic brush which they can use occasionally according to instructions. There is really no need to come to the clinic and get the same treatment done. But again here, guidance is needed. After all its a machine, and has no idea about the frequency your skin will need.
Derma planing is simply just shaving your face at the right angle with the right strokes. There is no problem at all, but again if done the wrong way you can end up with ingrown spots on your face.

What is your message for women who want to “ Cage Your Age “ ?
I would say firstly look at your diet, you have to get off gluten, dairy, sugar and processed food ( anything that comes out of a packet ) – you will be surprised at how your health and skin as a result will transform.
Have a proper skin care regimen using retinol at night and a sunblock during the day – very necessary.
Get yourself an anti ageing treatment atleast once a month– either a peel or a laser facial which can bring your skin so much luminosity . And since there is so much of pollution in India , an anti pollution facial will keep you looking younger and fresher.

Dr. Kiran Lohia is a Board Certified Dermatologist originally from New York where she was born, educated, and attended the renowned Columbia University. She holds further degrees from the U.K. Society of Cosmetic Sciences in cosmetic formulation making her an expert on skin and hair care products as well as their applications.

Now living in New Delhi, she is the only American Dermatologist in all of India and the first to bring the most advanced in laser and aesthetic technology to the now booming cosmetic market of the greater subcontinent.