Dermatologist Dr. Bhanusali Has One Unexpected Piece of Skincare Advice for People in Their 30s
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New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali is, like any other board-certified skincare professional, a huge fan of sunscreen and retinoid. And, a routine that includes sun protection in the a.m. and a retinoid made specifically for your skin type at night is key.
The Michigan State University alumnus founded digital platform Skin Medicinals in 2019 with the goal of making affordable medication accessible for all. The brand is now used by more than 12,000 dermatology prescribers and provides more than 500,000 patients with dermatologist-approved, science-backed topical prescriptions custom made for each user’s personal skin type and needs, all at a reasonable price.
Do what you (and your dermatologist) feel is best
His advice for people in their 20s and 40s is rather similar: apply retinoid and use your sunscreen. But the Aesthetica Skin Lab founder’s biggest tip for that age group in the middle, when signs of aging in the skin first begin to show, is a bit unorthodox.
“When you’re in your 30s, the biggest advice I have for people is don’t worry what anybody else is doing. Do what you feel is appropriate, or maybe what your dermatologist feels is appropriate,” he says. “I feel like with all these TikTok trends and God knows what, people feel like they need all these different things and honestly, you don’t.”
Dr. Bhanusali, who is the dermatologist behind Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and Martha Stewart’s 86 Elm brands, jokingly says he sometimes feels like a parent because he’s always telling his patients “no.”
“You need that relationship with somebody who is not afraid to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear,” he explains, and adds that he follows up his “no” with educational information, so people understand the science behind the aging process of their skin.
When young patients in their 20s want to start doing Botox, he is the first to explain when the best time to do so is and talk through other options, such as preventative treatments.
