Interview: Dr. Priyanka Reddy, Dermatologist, founder of DNA Skin Clinic

Interview with Dr. Priyanka Reddy, Dermatologist, founder of DNA Skin Clinic

Dr. Priyanka Reddy is one of the leading Dermatologists in Bangalore. She has had many happy patients in her 12 years of journey as a Dermatologist.

She is a qualified MBBS, MD – Dermatology and currently practicing at DNA Skin Clinic in Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore. 

Dr. Priyanka is the founder of DNA Skin Clinic and Wellness Center. After completing her M.D., she extended her training in cosmetology under many highly experienced doctors in the United States, in treatments related to injectables (Anti-wrinkle Injection, Fillers) and anti-aging.

Dr. Priyanka is also trained in various laser technologies. She has a keen eye for aesthetics and believes in a holistic approach to healthy skin, body, and mind.

Can you tell us about your educational and professional background, and what led you to specialize in dermatology?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: After completing my MBBS, I pursued my MD in dermatology, venereology and leprology from Mamata medical college. After which I had to move to USA for a brief period.

I took this opportunity to do courses in cosmetology in the USA and shadowed 2 leading cosmetic dermatologists in their practice. This is where I got my first exposure to the world of cosmetic dermatology.

After MBBS, I was interested in taking up dermatology. That time cosmetic dermatologist was not in vogue as it is now.

There wasn’t much awareness about career in this field and dermatology as a subject, was still not considered mainstream.

But I could see my future in it. I always wanted to have my own private practice and be my own boss, I’ve always inherently had an entrepreneurial streak within me and I felt cosmetic dermatology is the best field where I can balance being a doctor and an entrepreneur. 

Please tell us a little about your entrepreneurial journey

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: I would say I am still at the beginning stage of being called one. I started my clinic – DNA ( dermatology and aesthetics) right after I completed my studies.

Did not work anywhere. the natural entrepreneur nature, medical knowledge , a strong work ethic and a lot of hard work is what has helped me reach where I am today.

During these years I built a strong core team which I can say is my strength. In these 6 years I had my share of ups and downs but never gave up.

You learn from your mistakes and try to better yourself and your team. Team building and uplifting your team with you , helps you widen your entrepreneurial journey. 

Being a mompreneur isn’t easy. Balancing family and work for a woman is tough and major sacrifices have to be made this journey.

Being in this phase of life I would like to tell fellow mompreneurs to be strong , patient and smart about your business. shift your work online as much as possible.

Have a holistic approach to your career. Now with social media, you can make your business reach any potential customer in the world sitting right at your house. so use all means and tools around you to keep yourself and your business active even during unexpected phases like covid.

Even if your business is service oriented, make sure of having an online presence. Change is the only constant and adapting to changing times is crucial for an entrepreneur. 

Can you describe the range of treatments that your clinic offers, and what types of skin concerns you specialize in?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: At DNA we offer holistic solutions to all concerns related to skin, hair , nails and body aesthetics. We are at forefront in bringing in cutting edge technologies to our patients / clients .

We offer laser treatments, chemical peels, injectables ( fillers, botox) , threat lifts, fat loss procedures, hair transplantation, acne & pigmentation treatments, hair fall solutions & hair transplantations.

As a cosmetic dermatologist I have a 360 degree understanding of all skin diseases and cosmetic concerns as well.

What inspired you to open your own skin clinic, and what is your mission with the clinic?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: Opening my own clinic was a natural transition for me after I completed my studies owing to my mindset of building something impactful which I can call mine.

With my clinic, I not only want to build my career but also be instrumental in helping others build their careers and life.

I am inclined towards hiring people who otherwise would not get these opportunities ( due to lack of degrees, communication skills etc) .

I train them based on their natural abilities and skill sets and place them in an appropriate position. Most of my employees came up like this and I am very happy about it. The other mission is offering an honest, ethical practice to my patients which is my company’s culture.

How does your skin clinic differentiate itself from other dermatology practices in the area?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: I believe in a holistic approach.I believe that our skin &hair are external manifestations of internal health.

So any patient we treat we look at both internal and external factors leading to the concern and treat accordingly.

Which is why diet & lifestyle counselling is a major part of our treatment. We have a program called DNA 360 where a panel of dermatologists, gynaecologist, nutritionist, endocrinologist, dietician, fitness coach on board to help our clients in a holistic way rather than just prescribing some products or cosmetic treatments .

And we also offer all treatments under one roof. As I said earlier, we have all laser technologies and treatments at DNA that one can get in our field.

How do you approach skin care for patients, and what advice do you typically give for maintaining healthy skin?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: My skin care approach for my patients is highly personalised based on their skin concerns, skin goals. I believe in having a simple, practical, need & realistic goals based skin care routine.

I always ask my patients to focus equally on internal and external health and the most important advice is to be – CONSISTENT with practices.

Can you discuss some of the most common skin concerns that you see in your practice, and how you typically address them?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: Most common concerns I see – Acne, pigmentation, hair fall especially post covid , scars.

How do you stay up-to-date with the latest developments and research in the field of dermatology?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: I stay up to date by reading relevant journals, articles , and newsletters in my field. I actively take part in conferences and am constantly in touch with relevant representatives & colleagues in my field.

Can you tell us about a particularly challenging case you have worked on, and how you were able to successfully treat the patient?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: I can’t say one particular case as there have been quite a few cases where we could give life changing results.

Patients with aesthetic concerns are often depressed to a magnitude beyond your imagination . The emotional quotient of cosmetic concerns is highly undermined and often considered frivolous.

But we know how it can negatively impact one’s life and the results we offer can often change one’s life.

But I must mention , the results I was able to offer to my psoriasis patients with just dietary modifications is something that I can proudly talk about. It gives me great satisfaction.

How does your clinic incorporate technology into the treatment process, and what types of tools do you use?

Dr. Priyanka Reddy: We cannot shy away from technology in the current times. We are all, in every field, highly dependent on technology.

In our clinic , right from booking appointments, to saving patients records, and complete practice management is technology dependent.

We use softwares that helps us maintain these. We also have diagnostic tools that are tech dependent. There are apps that help with face mapping where we can show how a face is going to look after a particular procedure like fillers, which helps in viewing the health of deeper layers of skin etc.

So, yes, there is lot of dependency in technology and there is also something we as en entrepreneurs should keep ourselves update about.

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