The biggest life changes often come through unexpected choices. For Dr Jaishree Sharad, becoming a dermatologist was never part of the plan. In her early years, she had her sights set on becoming a paediatrician or a surgeon. Dermatology came into the picture almost as a last resort. What began as an unlikely turn in her career eventually placed her at the forefront of India’s evolving conversation around skin, beauty, and aesthetics.
Having witnessed that evolution first-hand, Dr Sharad has seen our relationship with skin change dramatically. She shares, “When I started practising, people largely came to dermatologists with a problem – acne, pigmentation, hair loss or a skin disease. Cosmetic dermatology itself was relatively nascent in India.” As aesthetic dermatology grew, so did the desire for correction. There was a time when the goal seemed to be the complete elimination of every line, pore and perceived imperfection.
According to Dr Sharad, how people perceive skin wellness is evolving. It is no longer limited to “solving skin issues” but also focused on keeping it healthy. “Today, thankfully, I see another shift. People still want to look good, but increasingly they want to look like themselves – healthier, fresher and better for their age rather than artificially younger. The conversation has moved from correction to prevention, maintenance and skin longevity.”
“Healthy skin is resilient because it’s protected and respected, not because it has been repeatedly stressed into temporary improvement.”
Scientifically speaking, the idea of healthy skin, for her, goes deeper than simply achieving a luminous complexion. “Healthy skin, to me, is threefold: an intact barrier with balanced hydration, a calm immune-microbiome interaction (minimal chronic inflammation), and preserved structural integrity (collagen, elastin and extracellular matrix). Visually, it reads as even tone, subtle luminosity, and expression without distortion”, she reflects.
Yet, while our understanding of skin has become more sophisticated, one antagonist has still made beauty standards more complicated: social media. Rapid trends, innumerable videos about “3-step skincare routine”, and countless product recommendations have created confusion regarding skin health. “Social media has simultaneously democratised skincare knowledge and amplified unrealistic beauty standards. It educates rapidly – good for raising awareness about sun protection, retinoids, and evidence-based routines – but it also accelerates fads and normalises extreme, curated ideals that skew expectations”, she says.
The result is often an overloaded approach to skincare, from excessive actives and exfoliation to chasing every viral treatment. Dr Sharad warns against “mixing multiple exfoliants, acids, retinoids and strong vitamin C serums without guidance,” which can disrupt the skin barrier, as well as “frequent chemical peels, daily scrubs, or aggressive microdermabrasion” that can leave skin reactive. Her advice is simple: “Slower, staged protocols win.” Start with barrier repair, introduce one active or treatment at a time and, most importantly, treat skin according to its individual needs.
The same principle applies to the growing obsession with ingredients. “Science is everything. Knowing the name of an ingredient is not the same as understanding skincare.” Concentration, formulation, stability and delivery all matter – and so does whether an ingredient is actually suited to your skin.
“More is not necessarily better. A simple, evidence-based routine that you can follow consistently will almost always outperform a complicated routine driven by trends.”
And if there is one time when this restraint matters most, it is before a big occasion. With weddings, red carpets and other milestone events often creating pressure for skin to look its absolute best, the temptation can be to do too much, too quickly. But last-minute experimentation can leave the skin more irritated than refreshed. “Treating the skin like a quick-fix: aggressive peels, untested treatments, or new actives started days before an event or even just like that without consulting a proper dermatologist.” Instead, she recommends planning ahead with “gentle maintenance, professional advice, and conservative office procedures scheduled so full recovery is assured.”
For Dr Sharad, the future isn’t about chasing flawlessness, but about making informed choices, protecting what we have, and letting skin look like skin. Because perhaps the most beautiful thing it can do is simply look like you.
