India, Sept. 16 -- Most of us think of skincare in terms of ingredients: retinol at night, sunscreen in the morning and moisturiser whenever we remember. But there is another layer to skincare that often gets overlooked, timing. Like several other functions in the body, the skin follows a roughly 24-hour circadian rhythm, which can influence processes such as cell activity, blood flow, barrier function and repair.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Ritupurna Dash, senior consultant, dermatology, Medanta Hospital, Noida, explains how the skin's needs change throughout the day and why timing can matter when building a skincare routine. (Also read: Planning a festive skincare overhaul? Doctor explains why too many facial treatments can d...