Beauty buzz: Shefali Jariwala tragic death; Dr. Shefali Trasi Nerurkar answers pertinent questions on over hyped anti-aging beauty trends

It was a heartbreaking moment for fans and the entertainment world alike when news broke that Shefali Jariwala, the stunning “Kaanta Laga” girl who had once set the screen ablaze with her charm and vivacity, had succumbed to a sudden heart attack at the young age of 42. What made her passing even more shocking was the context. A self-confessed Botox enthusiast, Shefali was known for embracing age-defying aesthetics. But behind the radiance, there was a darker reality.

When investigators entered her home, they found boxes of anti-aging pills, a cocktail of nutraceuticals and beauty boosters. She was said to be a regular user of glutathione drips, a popular skin-brightening treatment. On the morning of her demise, Shefali had reportedly been fasting for a Satyanarayan puja, and on an empty stomach, consumed an anti-aging pill. Later, she is believed to have undergone a Vitamin C drip and finally broke her fast with leftover refrigerated food late at night. Hours later, she was gone.

In the wake of her sudden and tragic death, TheGlitz launches a deep-dive investigation into this growing and often unchecked beauty trend, where celebrities and influencers, in pursuit of eternal youth and glowing skin, are regularly consuming anti-aging supplements, undergoing IV vitamin infusions, opting for glutathione drips, and stacking injectables like Botox, often without holistic medical evaluation.

Have we blurred the lines between science and vanity? Is beauty being over-medicalised at the cost of health and longevity?

To help separate fact from fatal fad, TheGlitz spoke exclusively to Dr. Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, renowned dermatologist and head of Dr. Trasi Clinic and La Piel Skin Clinic, for her expert insights on the long-term effects, risks, and red flags of this new-age obsession with looking forever flawless.

What follows is not fear mongering, but a necessary wake-up call… because in chasing beauty, we mustn’t lose sight of life itself.

Beauty Byte: Over To Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, MBBS, MD (DERMATOLOGY), Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Trasi clinic and La Piel skin clinic

Dr. Shefali Trasi, there are growing concerns about the long-term safety of anti-aging pills. Could these supplements, especially when taken daily, have adverse effects on heart health or contribute to conditions like low blood pressure?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: Any anti-ageing pills or nutraceutical when taken in right amounts is beneficial to the body. If the body does not require that particular vitamin… then it turns into a toxin for the body cells.

Shefali Jariwala was reportedly fasting on the day of her heart attack. When combined with anti-aging medications or high-dose supplements, could fasting dangerously alter the body’s electrolyte balance or blood pressure levels?

Dr. Shefali Trasi: Water-soluble vitamins (B-complex, vitamin C, magnesium, electrolytes) can typically be taken during fasting without significant effects. Fat soluble vitamins, collagen, glutathione, nad+ need to be taken after meals. Some vitamins can irritate the stomach lining while some can lower the sugar levels in blood. Extreme fasting deprives the body of electrolytes, which can lead to confusion, muscle cramps, dizziness, low blood pressure and fatigue.

Vitamin C drips, especially for skin brightening and glow, are quite the trend in celebrity circles. Are these intravenous infusions truly safe, or can repeated high doses affect heart rhythms or blood pressure levels?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: These drips are safe when done in right doses in a medical setup. These treatments should never be done at home.

Shefali was said to be a regular user of Glutathione drips… a popular anti-aging and skin-whitening treatment. Are there known cardiovascular risks associated with regular Glutathione use, especially when not medically indicated?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: Oral or iv glutathione drips should be avoided in patients planning pregnancy or lactation, asthma, those on cancer chemotherapy or any allergies to glutathione or its vehicle. Glutathione is an antioxidant which scavenges the reactive oxygen species in cells. Iv drips ensure better absorption of glutathione as compared to oral tablets. Low glutathione in body leads to hypertension, cardiovascular complications like cardiac arrhythmias.

Side-effects of glutathione include bloating, cramps, nausea, diarrhoea. It can cause low blood pressure leading to dizziness, it can also decrease zinc levels in the body.

Many celebrities, including Shefali, advocate for Botox as part of their beauty routine. While generally considered safe, could regular Botox treatments… especially when combined with other anti-aging interventions… have any systemic or long-term impact on overall health? Or any side-effects?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: Botox or neurotoxin is a safe product when used in right amounts. If used in excess, it can freeze the muscle action and prevent its action. Also, if it spreads to the adjoining muscle, it may have side effects like lid ptosis or brow ptosis etc. It is contraindicated in patients with neuro-muscular disorders like Myasthenia gravis and Eaton-Lambert syndrome.

Potential long-term side-effects can be antibody formation to neurotoxin (here body stops responding to neurotoxin injections and no result is seen on lines and wrinkles), muscle weakness over a period of time and skin thinning.

In your medical opinion, are we witnessing an over-medicalisation of beauty and youth? Are people, particularly women in the public eye, unknowingly putting their health at risk in pursuit of ‘eternal youth’?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: Over medicalisation is seen due to excess information on the social media. Here the patients visiting the aesthetic clinics come with a pre-notion that beauty is all about being a perfect role model with right skin color and tone; right face and body proportion.

Some people can take advantage of this thirst for perfection and perform unwanted treatments, whereas sometimes treatments are demanded by the patients without paying much heed to a doctor’s advice. This needs to be stopped asap. Aesthetic and anti-ageing treatments are scientific treatments and should be done by trained personnel. Specific guidelines should be set up for starting aesthetic clinics to avoid such problems.

What precautions should individuals take before undergoing treatments like anti-aging pills, vitamin drips, or Botox… especially if they have underlying health conditions (Shefali suffered from epilepsy) or are fasting, as Shefali reportedly was?

Dr. Shefali Trasi: Firstly, find out if your body requires that pills/ iv etc. Then under expert guidance take the treatment after a good meal. In case, there are any contraindiactions avoid taking that treatment. Avoid unnecessary trends.

“Any anti-ageing pills or nutraceutical when taken in right amounts is beneficial to the body. If the body does not require that particular vitamin… then it turns into a toxin for the body cells.”

– Dr. Shefali Trasi

Another trend is Ozempic, celebs are reportedly using that to lose weight? How advisable is that?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: Ozempic, mounjaro etc are semaglutide injections which slows down the digestion process and suppresses hunger. They are approved for treating type 2 diabetes and have off-label use as a weight loss treatment. However, both the drugs have severe gastrointestinal side-effects. Abdominal pain, constipation, indigestion, nausea and vomiting are some of the side effects. Patients are warned about the effects of pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy, low bood sugar, etc before using the drugs. Hence both of them should be taken under strict medical vigilance.

In light of Shefali’s untimely death, what would your urgent advice be to celebrities and influencers who are routinely combining multiple anti-aging regimens… from pills and drips to injectables… without holistic medical evaluation?
Dr. Shefali Trasi: Kindly visit a certified Dermatologist with a complete knowledge of these anti-ageing pills and drips. Treatments are safe when conducted under proper guidance. Anti-ageing treatments are not immediate quick fixes and need proper science and education to perform them on the patient.