Dr. Jaishree Sharad Interview
Q. You’ve spent over 25 years in dermatology. Looking back, what’s the one skin-related myth that still refuses to die despite all the awareness you’ve created?
Even after more than 25 years in dermatology, one myth that refuses to die is that 'natural ingredients are always safe for the skin.' I still see people applying lemon juice, tomato pulp, toothpaste, or baking soda on their face, believing that if it’s natural, it must be harmless. But that’s far from true.
Take lemon juice, for example — its pH is around 2, while healthy skin has a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. This big difference damages the skin’s protective acid mantle, leading to irritation, redness, and uneven pigmentation.
Secondly, citrus fruits and vegetable juices or vinegar can make the skin photosensitive. Which means when one goes out in daylight, the skin cells produce more pigment melanin leading to hyperpigmentation.
Q. You often talk about anti-aging beyond just creams and treatments. How do you define aging gracefully in a world obsessed with filters and perfection?
Aging gracefully yet youthfully isn’t about freezing time, it’s about nurturing your skin through every decade with care, science, and self-respect. True graceful aging begins with holistic skincare — balanced nutrition, hydration, stress management, good sleep, and daily sun protection.
Sunscreen remains your first anti-aging shield — it prevents photoaging, pigmentation, and collagen breakdown. Moisturisers keep your skin barrier healthy, preventing transepidermal water loss and dullness. As collagen and elastin begin to decline in your late 20s and 30s, introducing basic anti-aging treatments helps slow down the process:
Skin boosters to hydrate and improve elasticity
Polynucleotides or PRP to rejuvenate
HIFU / Radiofrequency (RF) to firm and lift
The goal isn’t to look younger than your age, it’s to look your best version at every age.
Q. Being a TEDx speaker and author, you translate medical science into stories people can actually connect with. How do you decide what to simplify and what to leave complex?
Skincare should be relatable. Everyone can understand that sunscreen protects collagen, or that moisturisers lock in hydration like a seal. So I translate acids, peptides, and retinoids into everyday language — easy to follow, yet scientifically correct. Treatments, however, must stay scientific.
Procedures like fillers, lasers, or HIFU aren’t beauty hacks; they’re medical interventions backed by anatomy and physics. Here, simplification can be misleading, so I keep it exact, data-driven, and transparent.
My approach is to help every patient understand the science behind their skincare and aesthetic treatments, so they make informed, confident choices.
Q. In your career, have you noticed how emotional health and skin health mirror each other? Could you share an example where treating the skin meant healing the mind, too?
The skin is our most visible organ, and it often becomes a screen on which our mind projects its stress, anxiety, or insecurity. When you’re emotionally distressed, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline rise, triggering inflammation, excess oil production, and barrier dysfunction. That’s why we see flare-ups of acne, eczema, or even hair loss during periods of emotional turbulence.
I remember a young man who came to me at 19 — withdrawn, underconfident, and struggling with severe acne. We started with the science — medical treatment, topical actives, a personalised skincare plan followed by peels and lasers to treat the scars. But along with that, he needed a little hand-holding — reassurance, patience, and consistency.
As his skin began to heal, so did his confidence. When the acne cleared and the scars softened, he started smiling again, speaking up, and believing in himself.
Today, he’s a confident young CEO — and that transformation reminded me that in dermatology, we don’t just treat the skin, we often heal the mind that lives within it
Q. Social media has made dermatology more accessible, but also more confusing with trends and quick fixes. How do you personally draw the line between education and debunking?
Social media has definitely made dermatology more visible, but also more noisy. Every day there’s a new trend, a new hack, or a quick fix that promises miracles. I don’t jump into every one of them. I choose to speak only when misinformation can actually harm people or erode trust in medical care.
When I do, I focus on clarity — not controversy. I explain what’s evidence-based, what’s safe, and what’s simply a marketing gimmick. Because the idea isn’t to shame anyone; it’s to guide them gently back to what’s real, what’s proven, what lasts.
I believe dermatology on social media shouldn’t be about louder voices, it should be about clearer truths.
Q. If you could redesign the way people approach their skin in their 20s, what three non-negotiables would you insist on?
I’d emphasise three absolute non-negotiables.
1. Sunscreen — every single day.
This isn’t optional. UV exposure silently breaks down collagen, causes pigmentation, and accelerates aging. Sunscreen is your most powerful anti-aging tool.
2. Moisturiser — to protect your skin barrier.
A healthy barrier prevents inflammation, acne, and sensitivity. Hydrated skin is resilient skin — it’s the base for everything else you do.
3. A healthy lifestyle — because great skin starts from within.
Balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and managing stress keep hormones and inflammation in check. No cream can replace what inner balance provides.
Q. Writing, consulting, speaking, treating—your roles are so varied. Which of these hats challenges you the most, and which one feels most natural?
Treating patients feels the most natural. That one-on-one connection, watching science rebuild confidence — that’s my comfort zone. Writing challenges me the most. Because it forces me to slow down, reflect, and translate complex dermatology into words people can actually feel and relate to.
And speaking — that’s my bridge. It lets me bring science to life, inspire trust, and connect with people beyond the clinic.
So if I had to sum it up —
Treating grounds me,
Writing stretches me,
and Speaking completes me.
Q. A light one to close, if you could share one unconventional skin tip from your 25+ years of experience that most people would never guess, what would it be?
Over-exfoliation or mindless product layering keeps skin in a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation, what we call inflammaging. Too much exfoliation strips away protective lipids and disrupts the skin barrier, leading to microtears, dehydration, and sensitivity. Add on excessive layering of actives, and you get irritation, clogged pores, and reduced ingredient absorption.
Bio:
Dr. Jaishree Sharad is a globally acclaimed cosmetic dermatologist based in Mumbai, with 25 years of experience with a high-profile clientele from Bollywood, politics, and sports. As the founder and director of Skinfinitii Aesthetic Skin and Laser Clinics, she excels in advanced antiaging treatments.
Dr. Sharad is also a celebrated author with three bestsellers published by Penguin Random House,the first two namely Skin Talks and Skin Rules were launched by Mr Amitabh Bachchan and the last one Skin care answer book was launched by Ranbir and Neetu Kapoor.
A four times TEDx speaker and a respected academic, she contributes to several prestigious dermatological journals and has been a key faculty at over 800 international and national conferences. Her extensive contributions to cosmetic dermatology have earned her numerous accolades, including the title of "Best Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist of India".
She is the associate editor of Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. She is on the editorial board of five other peer-reviewed journals. Dr Jaishree is a mentor of the ITMP of ASDS. She has been the Joint secretary of ACSI 2020 – 2022, Board of Directors of ESCAD 2009-2013, Board of Directors of the ISDS from 2017 to 2022. She has been the Vice President of the Cosmetic Dermatology Society of India from 2010 – 2017.
Recently Dr Jaishree Sharad got listed among the world's top 2% health scientists by Stanford university and Elselvier
Interviewed by - Divya Darshni
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