Dr. Shreya Munjral Interview
Combining an MBBS degree with postgraduate specializations in clinical cosmetology and aesthetic medicine, eternal youth skin clinic founder Dr. Shreya Munjral advocates for long-term holistic skin health. Highlighting how consistent routines, barrier protection, and lifestyle factors outperform viral online trends, she explains why restrained strategic interventions yield natural results and allow individuals to age gracefully.
Q. Could you tell us about your journey from MBBS to becoming an aesthetic doctor and anti-aging expert?
My journey started with MBBS, where I developed a strong interest in medicine and, particularly, in how skin reflects overall health. Over time, I realised that aesthetics is much more than appearance, it combines medicine, anatomy, skin science, and an understanding of how people age.
I went on to specialise in clinical cosmetology and aesthetic medicine, and over the years, my focus has evolved from simply treating individual concerns to looking at the face, skin, and ageing process more holistically. Today, I see aesthetics as a long-term journey rather than a collection of procedures.
Q. What inspired you to specialise in aesthetics and skin health?
What attracted me to aesthetics was the combination of science and individuality.
There isn’t one treatment that works for everyone, because everyone’s skin, anatomy, lifestyle, and ageing pattern are different. I also realised that people don’t necessarily want to look different, they want to look like a better, healthier version of themselves.
That idea really shaped the way I practise today: understand the person first, then decide whether they need a treatment.
Q. “Glow” is a major part of your philosophy. What does healthy, glowing skin mean to you?
To me, glow isn’t about having perfectly poreless or unnaturally shiny skin.
Healthy skin is well-hydrated, even in tone, resilient, comfortable, and functioning properly. A little texture, pores, and expression lines are normal skin.
I actually believe in healthy skin over perfect skin. When the skin barrier is healthy and inflammation, pigmentation, and dehydration are controlled, the skin naturally develops that healthy luminosity that people call “glow.”
Q. How much of our skin health is influenced by lifestyle and mindset, beyond skincare products?
A lot more than people realise.
Skincare is important, but it is only one part of the picture. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress, sun exposure, smoking, alcohol, and even how consistently you follow a routine can influence the skin.
And mindset matters because skincare isn’t an overnight transformation. Consistency beats intensity. Someone using three scientifically appropriate products consistently will often do better than someone constantly changing a ten-step routine based on whatever is trending online.
Q. What are some common skincare mistakes you see people making repeatedly?
The biggest one is doing too much.
People layer multiple active ingredients because they think more actives mean better results, and they end up compromising their skin barrier.
I also see people changing products too frequently, neglecting sunscreen, using products because they worked for someone else, and expecting a skincare product to correct something that may actually require a professional treatment.
And probably the most important mistake: not giving a treatment or routine enough time to work.
Q. With countless skincare trends online, how can people distinguish science-backed advice from social-media hype?
I always tell my patients to ask three questions: What is the evidence? What is the ingredient or technology doing? And is it appropriate for my skin?
A viral product isn’t necessarily a bad product, and something popular isn’t automatically pseudoscience. But popularity is not evidence.
Also, be cautious about dramatic before-and-after photographs and absolute claims like “this will remove pigmentation in seven days.” Skin biology doesn’t work in those timelines.
A good doctor should also be comfortable telling you what you don’t need. That’s often more valuable than telling you what to buy.
Q. When should someone consider professional aesthetic treatments instead of relying only on skincare?
When the concern is beyond what topical skincare can realistically change.
For example, skincare can do a lot for pigmentation, hydration, texture, and maintaining skin quality. But concerns involving significant acne scarring, deeper pigmentation, loss of volume, certain forms of laxity, or established wrinkles may require professional intervention.
The important thing is not to jump from skincare straight to an aggressive procedure. I prefer a stepwise approach: start with the simplest intervention that can realistically achieve the desired result and escalate only when necessary.
Q. Botox and fillers are often misunderstood. What is one important difference people should know before considering either treatment?
The simplest way to understand it is: Botox primarily modifies muscle activity, whereas fillers are used to add or restore volume and contour.
They solve very different problems.
Botox can soften certain dynamic lines by reducing muscle movement. Fillers can be used to restore volume, improve contours, or support certain areas.
Neither should be thought of as a generic “anti-ageing injection.” The right treatment depends on what is causing the concern.
Q. How do you approach aesthetic treatments while ensuring that patients still look natural and like themselves?
I think restraint is one of the most important skills in aesthetics.
My first question isn’t, “What can I inject or treat?” It’s “What actually needs to be changed?”
I look at facial proportions, anatomy, movement, and the patient’s natural features, and then I try to make small, strategic corrections rather than dramatic transformations.
I don’t want someone to walk out looking like they have had a treatment. I want them to look rested, refreshed, and still completely recognisable as themselves.
Q. What factors should someone consider before choosing an aesthetic procedure or practitioner?
Don’t choose a procedure simply because it is trending, and don’t choose a practitioner purely because of price or social-media followers.
Look at their medical qualifications, specific training, experience with the procedure, understanding of facial anatomy, the products or devices they use, and whether they spend enough time consulting with you.
Also notice whether they are willing to say, “You don’t need this.”
A good consultation should include discussion of benefits, limitations, risks, alternatives, and what happens if the result isn’t what you expected.
Q. Anti-aging is a growing focus among younger audiences. When should people start thinking about preventive skincare and treatments?
I think we need to redefine what preventive anti-ageing means.
Prevention should start much earlier than procedures. Sunscreen, good skincare, sleep, nutrition, exercise, and not smoking are preventive anti-ageing.
Professional treatments are a separate conversation. I don’t believe everyone in their twenties needs Botox or injectable treatments simply because they’re available.
Instead, I prefer a personalised approach. If someone has an early concern that genuinely bothers them and there is a safe, appropriate intervention, we can discuss it. But preventive aesthetics should never become an excuse to medicalise normal ageing.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to stop ageing. It’s to age well.
BIO
Dr. Shreya Munjral is an aesthetic physician, cosmetologist, and founder of Eternal Youth Skin & Hair Clinic. Holding an MBBS, a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Cosmetology, and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine, she brings over 12 years of clinical experience across her practices in Amritsar. Focusing on healthy skin over perfection, she combines medical science with personalized, evidence-based treatment plans designed to enhance natural features and support long-term skin health.
Interviewed By Vanshika Gupta
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