We are seeing a clear change in how people think about their skin today. Skincare is slowly moving from being something people turn to when there is a visible concern to something they think about as part of their everyday health and well-being.For a long time, skin protection was largely reduced to sunscreen. Sunscreen is important, but healthy skin needs more than protection from UV exposure. It also needs a healthy skin barrier, adequate hydration, gentle cleansing and products that are suited to an individual’s skin, opines Shaily Mehrotra, CEO & Co-Founder, Fixderma & FCL.
Prevention starts with understanding your skin
One of the biggest changes we are seeing is that consumers are becoming more proactive. Instead of waiting for pigmentation, dryness, sensitivity or signs of ageing to become noticeable, people are beginning to think about what they can do earlier.This does not mean adding more products to your routine. In fact, prevention often starts with getting the basics right.Understanding your skin, knowing what it needs and being consistent with a simple routine can go a long way. The focus should be on protecting the skin today so that you are not constantly trying to correct problems later.
Skin health is a daily commitment
Our skin is exposed to different kinds of stress every day sunlight, pollution, changes in weather, air conditioning and even lifestyle factors. We may not notice their impact immediately, but consistent care becomes important over time.“This is why I believe skincare needs to become a habit rather than a reaction. Cleansing appropriately, moisturising, using sun protection and adding targeted products when required are simple steps, but their value comes from doing them consistently,” adds Mehrotra.
Consumers need better information, not more products
There is also a lot of information available to consumers today, which is positive, but it can sometimes make skincare more complicated than it needs to be.People are becoming more ingredient-conscious and are asking better questions about what they are putting on their skin. The industry has a responsibility to make this information easier to understand.A good skincare routine is not about having the maximum number of products. It is about knowing why you are using something and whether your skin actually needs it.The future of skincare, in my view, will be increasingly preventive. Consumers will move from simply treating visible concerns to understanding their skin better and taking steps to maintain its health over the long term.Dr. Vipin, Medical Advisor, Fixderma feels, “Skin health must be addressed in a preventive manner instead of addressing the problem after it appears. Every day exposure to UV rays, environmental toxins, climatic conditions and other external influences may have their impact on skin barrier and overall skin condition.”However, even if we take into consideration the necessity of sun protection, basic skin care like proper cleansing, adequate moisturising and no irritation should become a priority.It should be taken into account that every skin type has its own needs. Overloading skin with too many active ingredients and switching products too often can actually harm it if the skin barrier has been affected somehow.This is why preventive care should include proper and not complicated routine as well as necessary sun protection and targeted care when it becomes necessary.
