In the dynamic realm of cosmetic medicine, Dr. Rakhee Sharma stands as a beacon of expertise and innovation. Armed with an M.B.B.S degree and international certifications in various specialized fields including cosmetology, trichology, laser, injectables, and PMU, Dr. Sharma has emerged as a distinguished figure in the aesthetic industry.

Located in the bustling Thakur Complex of Kandivali East, Mumbai, Redefine Aesthetic Clinic is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with cutting-edge technology. Here, individuals can avail themselves of a comprehensive range of aesthetic procedures catering to skin, hair, and body. Dr. Rakhee Sharma’s commitment to staying at the forefront of medical advancements is evident in the meticulous care and advanced techniques offered at her center.

The journey to her current stature is a testament to Dr. Rakhee Sharma’s resilience and passion for her field. Following the untimely demise of her father, a successful physician, she found herself shouldering the financial responsibilities of her family. This challenging phase fueled her determination to pursue specialization. In 2004/2005, she discovered the emerging field of aesthetic medicine, taking courses in India and further honing her skills with training in Australia. Despite initial hurdles, Dr. Rakhee Sharma’s perseverance has sustained her successful practice for over 15 years.

Dr. Rakhee Sharma draws inspiration from her parents, particularly her father, whose success in the medical field instilled in her a sense of purpose. The sudden loss of her father in 1997 marked a turning point in her life. Undeterred by societal expectations and skepticism as a young doctor, she emerged as the pillar of strength for her family, creating her unique identity and legacy in the medical community.

Beyond her role as a practitioner, Dr. Rakhee Sharma is actively involved in shaping the future of aesthetic medicine. She imparts her knowledge through teaching and runs an accredited ‘Med Aesthetic Institute training Doctor’s in Aesthetic field’. Additionally, her commitment to excellence extends to the manufacturing of products for face and hair through her venture, Redefine Solutions.

In her message to aspiring women entrepreneurs, Dr. Rakhee Sharma advocates for persistence, learning from mistakes, staying updated with industry trends, and maintaining a positive attitude. She emphasizes the significance of appearance, team spirit, and gratitude. Dr. Rakhee Sharma encourages a balanced approach to success and failure, underlining the importance of humility and an assertive drive for quality work.

Dr. Rakhee Sharma’s multifaceted contributions to the field of aesthetic medicine and her inspirational journey serve as a testament to the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.

Vitamin B is for Belief

Few questions that we received From JUNE 17^th, 2023 article :

1.How do we take injections for Vitamin D?

a.Vitamin D injections should be taken only after a medical report with medical advice

2.Can you elaborate on calcium rich foods?

a.Dairy Foods, almonds, leafy green veges like spinach, kale, mustard, collard, seeds (like chia, poppy,sesame) celery, red millet – nachni, peas, green beans, figs (anjeer), and many more

What we spoke in the article on June 17th, 2023 – a Quick Snapshot

Monitor your Vitamin D levels through your blood reports and preferably take injections if other methods do not seem to work – but only on Medical Advice

Today we have a New Topic at Hand – Vitamin B12

Slowly we will look into how important role does this Vitamin play in our body and how to manage its appropriate levels

If we were not so dirt conscious, we would have adequate Vitamin B12 from soil, air, water, and bacteria. But we meticulously wash and peel our vegetables.

There are many Vitamins that exist and all are essential for health. All of them, we get abundantly from nature through foods and other mediums, however we are not in a position to absorb them. 2 of such Vitamins which we are unable to take in sufficient quantity are Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12. Vitamin D3 – we have already spoken in the last 3 articles. Through this article we will now see how important is Vitamin B12 and what happens if we are deficient in it.

Vitamin B12 also called cobalmin, is a water-soluble vitamin and is involved in metabolism. It is important in various important functioning of our body like

1. the proper functioning of the nervous system,
2. fatty acid and amino acid metabolism
3. DNA synthesis
4. Maturation of Red Blood Cells in the bone marrow

So, if Vitamin B12 is deficient or in excess in our blood, we are likely to suffer symptoms related to the above processes which is maintained by appropriate levels of Vitamin B12.

In my regular practice, I have seen symptoms like Tingling Sensation in the legs, Anaemia, Metabolism Hampered in my clients, some symptoms occur due to

1. Deficient Vitamin B12 – less of haemoglobin and
2. Some due to Excess of Vitamin B12 – especially in those cases where my clients have been consuming Vitamin B complex capsules for ages without getting their blood reports done and their Vitamin B12 levels just rise above 2000 pg/ml, whereas the normal range is just 211 – 911 pg/ml – some laboratories MAY have a slightly different range.

It is believed that Vitamin B12 is obtainable only from Non-Vegetarian foods, however due to the animals being cultivated only from the perspective of food, they are being fed with a lot of Antibiotics and Medicines. Hence, most of my clients who eat non-vegetarian food, also lack Vitamin B12.

Now the question is how would people in olden days get Vitamin B12, especially those who were strictly vegetarian or vegan. A good question and the answer is also very simple. I would request you to read the first line again which is at the beginning of the article.

Earlier, when people would walk on the roadside especially in villages – they would either pluck fruits and veges and directly eat them just by slight wiping them with a piece of cloth and not washing them with water. Most people would sit on the floor and have their food, even in the cities. People in village – would sit on soil / non concreted floor of their homes and have food. Vitamin B12 is abundantly found in air and soil.

However, in modern times since we wash vegetables and fruits extremely well with water and these days we also have so called certain chemicals which will purify them from outside more – hence all natural vitamins are being killed and we are getting into an artificial world. We sit on chair / sofa / or some other medium and have food.

That is the reason our Ancestors in Ancient India always planted and also advised us to plant more and more trees near the roadside which would give fruits, had food sitting on the ground (not only good from digestion point of view, but being more close to nature even it may be the smallest of the  bacteria / vitamin invisible to us – Logically, Healthwise, Lifestylewise, Scientifically Also correct !!!

Remember –Take Away

1. Learn to be more Natural – it will increase your immunity further

2.  Do not take any medicine without testing yourself – else you might definitely land up with various health issues

3. Do not doubt the practices of our ancestors – but try to find out the science behind their practices

In the next session – On August 19, 2023

We shall see the following points

1. Normal Range of Vitamin B12
2. How does deficiency of Vitamin B12 affect our health
3. My observation on Deficiency of Vitamin B12 and its effect in Rural, Semi Urban and Urban areas

Questions Invited: Please feel free to share your queries on dr.vidushi.agrawal@gmail.com (please be careful about the spelling in email id)– we will take question and answers in the next article on 3^rd Saturday of August 2023  ie August  19, 2023. Please send your queries by the 10^th of August 2023.

Few questions that we received From MAY 17^th, 2023 article :

1.Why do we talk about Vitamin D and Calcium together?

a.Vitamin D helps Calcium to absorb in bones. If Vitamin D is low, calcium will not be absorbed appropriately in Bones. Hence, Vitamin D and Calcium are always spoken about together .

 2.Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency?

i. There are no symptoms specific to Vitamin D deficiency. They are common and non specific like fatigue / tiredness, aches and pains

3.What happens if Vitamin D levels in our blood exceed?

a.Vitamin D levels when they exceed in the blood, may encourage too much absorption of calcium. This may lead to calcium stone formation. Other nonspecific symptoms can also include decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness, constipation. May also lead to Disorientation, Confusion, and others.

Today we will see: WHY ARE FEMALES MORE PRONE TO WEAKER BONES & HOW TO OBTAIN VITAMIN D – (through natural and artificial ways)

Calcium is a very important mineral in blood as it helps to keep bones and teeth healthy, plays important role in blood coagulation, helps muscles to contract, and regulates heart (maintaining normal heart rhythm) and nerve functioning.

One main reason when blood is lost due to haemorrhage, there is drop in calcium levels; definitely there are other reasons too. They could be more of associated reasons with haemorrhage.  Haemorrhage is nothing else but blood loss due to any reason – example injury in any gender & menstruation in females. In females, due to levels of oestrogen rise and fall during menstruation cycle – so can also calcium levels

Also, during pregnancy – especially during the last trimester – to meet the demands of rapidly mineralizing skeleton of the foetus, there is significant transplacental calcium transfer

Also, during breast feeding, there is loss of calcium in the breast milk. Now, amongst all this the females generally have one priority to take care of their kids, families and they forget to take care of themselves – hence the minerals and vitamins level keep on decreasing. For them the priority becomes their kid and family, ignoring the self – which is the main reason for poor health being more in Women.

Also, it is scientifically known that women lose about 10% of their bone mass in the first 5 years after menopause.

Hence, Women suffer from weak bones and osteopenia and osteoporosis more than men and also at an early age. Hence, besides eating calcium rich food, it is also essential to maintain proper Vitamin D levels in blood.

We have already spoken about calcium rich foods in the previous article of May 20, 2023. Let us now understand how to maintain appropriate Vitamin D levels in blood.

As we all are aware that Vitamin D is the sunlight vitamin, meaning available only through sunlight. So, what are the conditions that we need to follow to obtain Vitamin D naturally.

1. These days’ sunblock creams are in trend. Hence, if we have to absorb Ultraviolet B radiation from sunlight to be converted to Pre-vitamin D3, WE HAVE TO AVOID USING SUNBLOCK CREAMS AND LOTIONS while sitting in sun
2. Clothes that we need to wear during this process has to be extremely thin and Close to  white color – this becomes next to impossible in daily life especially in India – as we do not have a private balcony and we cannot do it in public place
3. The best time for exposure to sun is between 10 am – 4 pm as stated not only in our Vedic Books but also by Modern Scientific Research.
   • a. Our Vedic Books say – when the sun is directly on our head. Hence, depending upon the city / country – generally the head is straight above us anytime between 10 am – 4 pm.
   • b. Now generally this time is difficult for the working professionals and also for most of the housewives, as it is the peak time for work
4. Duration of exposure – definitely depends on the color of your skin. If you have light skin color, the exposure time will be less and if you are dark – the exposure time will be more
5. Last but not the least: This point is totally my observation and nothing to do with any scientific research – I have observed in my grandparents – who would sit to get basked in sun – they would do so after having a slight oil massage.

At that time, I was a kid and honestly had no knowledge on this, so never asked them any questions. And today, when I have knowledge, they are no more to be asked – hence I call this as pure observation.

At later stages of their lives, whenever I got their reports checked, to my surprise, their Vitamin D was always normal. Hence, I also put up the point number 5; though modern science says that an oil massage has no effect. But I am sure that Oil Massage definitely has some effect – some scientific reason behind it as our ancestors did nothing without a science behind it – though it was communicated to us in the form of fables and stories.

Now when the above conditions do not seem possible to get natural vitamin d, what are the other sources to obtain it. There are many sources in the market – which I am sure – people would be aware about them.

1. Sachets
2. Injections
3. Tablets
4. Drops

Here, what I write is pure my experience of 13+ years in the field. People who take sachets, tablets and drops – either have no effect at all or the effect of increase in Vitamin D in blood is extremely slow. It is sometimes so slow, that by the time you do your yearly blood report the next year, your Vitamin D in blood has further reduced and making our bones weaker.

Hence, for me and my clients, I have always prescribed injections and we are extremely sure – that after the injection how much vitamin d will rise. Of course – be it tablets or injections – should be taken only after Medical Advise – because consuming more Vitamin D either in the form of tablets / sachets / drops / injections – can do Harm than benefit. Vitamin D should be taken only and only after a blood report is done. 

Remember –Take Away

1. Vitamin D & Calcium supplements in any form should be taken  only after a proper medical advice – not by advise of any supplement seller or by talks with friends and relatives 2.  Females are more prone to weaker bones because they share their nutrition with their children and also loose during significant periods of Hormonal Changes. Remember – If Family First – Then Women First.

Hence, do take good care of all the Women in your family.

Questions Invited: Please feel free to share your queries on dr.vidushi.agrawal@gmail.com (please be careful about the spelling in email id)– we will take question and answers in the next article on 3^rd Saturday of July 2023  ie July 15, 2023. Please send your queries by the 10^th of July 2023. You may choose to reveal your name or if not, let us know we will put as anonymous