Rajkot has many clinics offering skin, hair and laser care, and the names on the boards do not always make it clear who is a doctor and who is not. Choosing well matters: the same laser or peel can give a good result in one pair of hands and a burn or dark patch in another. Here is what to look for, written from the doctor’s side of the desk.
What the letters mean
In India, a dermatologist is a medical doctor (MBBS) who has then done specialist training in dermatology, venereology and leprosy. You will usually see one of these after the name:
- MD (Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy): a three-year postgraduate degree.
- DNB (Dermatology): a postgraduate qualification of equivalent level from the National Board of Examinations.
- DDVL: a postgraduate diploma in dermatology, venereology and leprosy.
All three mean specialist training in diagnosing and treating skin, hair and nail disease. Titles such as “cosmetologist”, “skin expert” or “aesthetic therapist” on their own do not.
Check the registration
Every practising doctor in India must be registered with a state medical council. Registered doctors also appear in the Indian Medical Register kept by the National Medical Commission. A good clinic will happily give you the doctor’s registration number.
Who will actually see you?
Ask this before you book. At a dermatologist-led clinic, the first person to examine your skin should be the doctor, not a counsellor or salesperson, and treatment plans should be made by the doctor. Procedures may be carried out by trained staff, but under the doctor’s supervision and with settings the doctor has chosen.
What a good first consultation looks like
- The doctor asks questions: how long, what you have tried, your medicines, periods and hormones where relevant, family history.
- You are examined, sometimes with a dermatoscope or a Wood’s lamp.
- You get an explanation of what the problem is and what causes it.
- Treatment options are explained, including the simple ones: sometimes creams or tablets are enough.
- If a procedure is suggested, you hear the likely number of sessions, the gap between them, the side effects and an indicative cost before you agree to anything.
Warning signs
- Promises of guaranteed or permanent results, or before-and-after photos with obviously different lighting.
- Pressure to buy a large package on the first visit.
- No examination, or a plan made before anyone has looked at your skin.
- Laser or peel sessions done with no questions about your skin type, tanning or medicines.
- Unclear answers about who you will see and what qualifications they hold.
Questions worth asking
- Is the doctor a dermatologist, and what is their registration number?
- What do you think is causing my problem?
- What are all my options, including the cheapest one?
- How many sessions should I expect, and what will the total cost be roughly?
- What side effects are possible on my skin type, and what happens if one occurs?
How we work at OrnaSkin
OrnaSkin is a dermatologist-led clinic. Dr. Smit Thakkar (MBBS, DDVL) sees patients at our Madhur Nagar clinic by appointment, and Dr. Janak Thakkar, who founded the practice in 1984, sees patients at Radhakrishnan Marg. Every plan starts with an examination, and the likely sessions and cost are explained before treatment. Whether you choose us or another clinic, the questions above will help you choose well.
