The Skin Real ®

🛍️ Shop Dr. Mina's recommended skincare on Aire Health: https://www.airehealth.com/skinstore/drminaskin In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina explains why hormonal acne comes back in midlife and how to treat it. As estrogen rises and falls in perimenopause and then drops after menopause, testosterone becomes relatively more dominant. That can bring back breakouts on the chin and jawline while the skin barrier gets drier and more sensitive. Dr. Mina, a dermatologist who still gets the occasional breakout at 46, goes through hormonal acne treatment from first steps to in-office options. She covers the best retinoids for midlife skin and how to tolerate them, and why stripping oil from your skin backfires. She explains when azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, topical antibiotics and the new clascoterone cream are worth using. She also covers why spironolactone is her go-to for midlife women, why Accutane often isn’t a lasting fix, how cortisone injections and the new 1726 nm acne lasers fit in, and what we do and don’t know yet about hormone replacement therapy and acne. 🔗 Fall is the perfect time to check in on your skin before winter hits. Scan your skin for free with my Skin Analysis app: https://realskin.theskinreal.com In this episode:  0:00 — The hormone that’s been protecting your skin 0:12 — Welcome to The Skin Real 2:13 — What is hormonal acne? 2:36 — Hormonal acne causes in perimenopause and menopause 4:11 — Why midlife skin gets drier and more sensitive 4:37 — Stress, lifestyle and medications that trigger acne 5:52 — Hormonal chin acne and jawline acne 6:30 — How common is adult hormonal acne? 6:49 — Retinoids for hormonal acne: tretinoin, tazarotene and adapalene 8:37 — How to tolerate a retinoid 9:16 — Why you need a moisturizer with acne 10:04 — A word from AIRE Health 10:45 — Azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid 12:15 — Topical antibiotics and clascoterone 13:02 — Oral antibiotics: a short-term bridge 13:49 — Spironolactone for hormonal acne 14:39 — Accutane for hormonal acne: why it often comes back 15:42 — Cortisone injections for cystic acne 16:45 — The new 1726 nm acne lasers 17:15 — Can hormone replacement therapy help acne? 18:33 — Final thoughts   Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don’t miss out!   📱Download The Skin Real app! Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-skin-real/id6748411628 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vyten.theskinreal&hl=en_US 🔔 Follow for weekly evidence-based skin advice from a dermatologist you can actually trust. 📩 Find a board-certified dermatologist near you: https://www.aad.org 🛍️ Shop Dr. Mina's recommended skincare on Aire Health: https://www.airehealth.com/skinstore/drminaskin   Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun!   Follow Dr. Mina here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drminaskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/ Visit The Skin Real Serenbe: https://theskinrealserenbe.com/ Book your Meet and Greet here Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust.  

In this episode, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina goes through your Sephora sale basket and explains why most of the anti-aging products in it won’t change anyone’s skin. She starts by clearing the cart. Value sets and mini bundles rarely save money. At-home microneedling tools risk infection and scarring for minimal results. Collagen creams can’t reach the dermis where collagen lives. Scrubs and pore strips do more harm than good. She then refills the basket with what actually works: retinol and retinoids, chemical exfoliants, hypochlorous acid spray, daily sunscreen, a barrier repair moisturizer for the colder months, and a gentle cleanser, along with affordable picks for each. The episode closes with her three rules before checkout: restock what’s working, add one new active at a time, and skip anything that isn’t a deal at full price. 🔗 Fall is the perfect time to check in on your skin before winter hits. Scan your skin for free with my Skin Analysis app: https://realskin.theskinreal.com In this episode: 0:00 — Anti-aging products in your basket that won’t change your skin 0:14 — Welcome to The Skin Real 1:33 — Not sponsored: how these products were picked 2:07 — Why the Sephora sale leads to expensive skincare mistakes 2:38 — Part 1: Emptying your basket and the hot girl hamster wheel 3:14 — Value sets and mini bundles 4:51 — At-home microneedling tools 8:01 — Topical collagen creams 10:05 — Scrubs, pore strips, and anything gritty 12:09 — Chemical exfoliants to swap in 13:08 — Part 2: Retinol and retinoids for anti-aging 14:59 — Retinol picks: Kiehl’s, Dermalogica, Paula’s Choice 15:44 — Chemical exfoliant picks: pads, toners, and serums 17:30 — Hypochlorous acid spray 19:01 — Sunscreen: the most proven anti-aging product 21:08 — Sunscreen picks: Shiseido, ISDIN, Supergoop 22:39 — Barrier repair moisturizer for colder months 23:55 — Moisturizer picks: Skinfix and Dr. Idriss 24:56 — Gentle cleanser and the tight skin test 25:58 — Cleanser picks 26:57 — Rule 1: Restock what’s working 27:36 — Rule 2: One new active at a time and patch testing 28:45 — Rule 3: If you wouldn’t buy it at full price, it’s not a deal 29:21 — Final thoughts Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don’t miss out!   📱Download The Skin Real app! Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-skin-real/id6748411628 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vyten.theskinreal&hl=en_US   🔔 Follow for weekly evidence-based skin advice from a dermatologist you can actually trust.   📩 Find a board-certified dermatologist near you: https://www.aad.org   🛍️ Shop Dr. Mina's recommended skincare on Aire Health: https://www.airehealth.com/skinstore/drminaskin   Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun!   Follow Dr. Mina here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drminaskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/ Visit The Skin Real Serenbe: https://theskinrealserenbe.com/ Book your Meet and Greet here Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust. Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina pulls together everything you need to know about estrogen cream for the face. She traces the trend back to the 1940s, when estrogen was a star ingredient in wrinkle creams before disappearing for decades, and explains why skin seems to change overnight in midlife as estrogen drops and collagen loss accelerates. Dr. Mina shares her own story of developing melasma as a medical student and what it taught her about the real trigger, then tackles the biggest fears head on: systemic absorption, breast cancer, and combining topical estrogen with hormone therapy. Along the way, colleague Dr. Brenda Deniman weighs in on how long results really take and why so many women fill their vaginal estrogen prescription but never use it. She also talks about  the surprising place estrogen cream may matter most, how vaginal estrogen can help prevent dangerous UTIs, and the difference between estriol and estradiol for facial skin, plus exactly where Dr. Mina fits estrogen cream into her own nighttime routine. 🔗 Fall is the perfect time to check in on your skin before winter hits. Scan your skin for free with my Skin Analysis app: https://realskin.theskinreal.com   In this episode:  0:00 — Estrogen cream for face: 7 things to know first 0:14 — Welcome to The Skin Real 1:40 — What this episode covers 2:52 — #7 Estrogen face cream is a 1940s comeback 4:11 — #6 Menopause, estrogen loss and collagen decline 6:21 — #5 Does estrogen cream work on your face? 8:31 — #4 Can estrogen cream trigger melasma? 11:04 — Estrogen cream and rosacea 11:29 — #3 Absorption, breast cancer and hormone therapy 13:59 — #2 Why vaginal estrogen comes first 17:28 — #1 Estriol vs estradiol for facial skin 20:16 — How I use estrogen cream in my routine 21:18 — Recap and key takeaways Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don’t miss out! 📱Download The Skin Real app! Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-skin-real/id6748411628 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vyten.theskinreal&hl=en_US   🔔 Follow for weekly evidence-based skin advice from a dermatologist you can actually trust.   📩 Find a board-certified dermatologist near you: https://www.aad.org   🛍️ Shop Dr. Mina's recommended skincare on Aire Health: https://www.airehealth.com/skinstore/drminaskin   Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun!   Follow Dr. Mina here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drminaskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/ Visit The Skin Real Serenbe: https://theskinrealserenbe.com/ Book your Meet and Greet here Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust. Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

In this episode, I’m answering a question I get every fall: are we really in a vitamin D deficiency crisis, and does everyone need to supplement? Right now there are two camps. One says take high dose vitamin D, and the higher the better. The other says skip the pills and go touch grass. As a dermatologist, I don’t fully agree with either. I explain how your skin makes vitamin D, why shorter days and indoor life cut that off, and what low vitamin D actually means on a blood test, depending on which medical organization you follow. I walk through who’s most at risk for vitamin D deficiency, the signs I look for in my own practice, like certain types of hair loss, and why I’m getting my own levels checked at my next physical. I also share what a 25,000-person trial found about supplementing when your levels are already normal. If you do need to supplement, I break down D3 vs D2, when adding K2 makes sense, realistic daily doses, and why high dose vitamin D can tip into toxicity, especially with vitamin D now added to so many other supplements. Before you buy that bottle or go out without sunscreen, start with one question: are you actually deficient? 📱Download The Skin Real app! Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-skin-real/id6748411628 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vyten.theskinreal&hl=en_US   In This Episode:  00:00 – Get The Skin Real app 00:28 – Welcome to The Skin Real 01:35 – Is there really a vitamin D deficiency crisis? 03:02 – How your skin makes vitamin D (and why windows block it) 04:13 – What counts as vitamin D deficiency? 20 vs 30 ng/mL 05:40 – Who’s at risk for low vitamin D and should get tested 07:04 – Normal levels? Why supplementing may not help 08:04 – Vitamin D and your immune system 08:56 – Vitamin D deficiency and hair loss 09:49 – Vitamin D3 vs D2, and why people pair it with K2 11:10 – How much vitamin D per day? The danger of high doses 12:55 – The hidden vitamin D in your other supplements 13:23 – Should you skip sunscreen for vitamin D? 14:22 – Before you buy that vitamin D supplement Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don’t miss out! 🔔 Follow for weekly evidence-based skin advice from a dermatologist you can actually trust. 📩 Find a board-certified dermatologist near you: https://www.aad.org 🛍️ Shop Dr. Mina's recommended skincare on Aire Health: https://www.airehealth.com/skinstore/drminaskin   Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun!   Follow Dr. Mina here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drminaskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/ Visit The Skin Real Serenbe: https://theskinrealserenbe.com/ Book your Meet and Greet here Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust. Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

🔗 Fall is the perfect time to check in on your skin before winter hits. Scan your skin for free with my Skin Analysis app: https://realskin.theskinreal.com In this episode of The Skin Real, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina answers the viewer questions about injectables and procedures that keep landing in her inbox. She shares her own laser resurfacing recovery from May 2026, from the bleeding and tightness of the first three days to the week-long healing timeline, and explains the warning signs after a laser treatment that mean it is time to call your doctor. Dr. Mina breaks down whether masseter Botox can make jowls look worse, the one under-eye concern Botox actually helps, why microneedling will not fix broken capillaries, and what to do about Radiesse and Sculptra bumps that cannot be dissolved like hyaluronic acid filler. She also tackles a viewer stacking Sculptra, Fraxel Dual, and Softwave, explains what SkinVive really does, shares the order she follows when combining procedures, and reveals why she now focuses on the lateral face instead of the midface to avoid the overfilled look. Her biggest takeaway is to step off the hot girl hamster wheel and find one trusted provider who builds a long-term plan around your whole face.   In this episode:  0:00 — Your most asked injectable and procedure questions 1:21 — Welcome to the viewer questions series 2:06 — How long does laser resurfacing take to heal 4:52 — A real laser recovery day by day 6:29 — Warning signs after a laser treatment 8:17 — Does masseter Botox cause jowls 11:07 — How many Botox units the jaw really needs 12:09 — Can Botox help the under eyes 13:31 — The jelly roll fix that takes just 2 units 14:45 — Microneedling and broken capillaries 16:34 — Bumps after Radiesse filler 19:08 — Why HA filler dissolves and Radiesse doesn’t 19:58 — Sculptra, Fraxel Dual, and Softwave together 21:05 — Getting off the hot girl hamster wheel 21:59 — Why at-home skincare still matters 22:51 — The mirror test before the next treatment 24:07 — What SkinVive really does 25:19 — How to stack procedures safely 26:26 — Why the lateral face matters more now 27:22 — Send in your next questions 27:45 — Final thoughts   Want a deeper look? Watch the full episode on YouTube for a more visual experience of today’s discussion. This episode is best enjoyed on video—don’t miss out!   📱Download The Skin Real app! Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-skin-real/id6748411628 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vyten.theskinreal&hl=en_US 🔔 Follow for weekly evidence-based skin advice from a dermatologist you can actually trust. 📩 Find a board-certified dermatologist near you: https://www.aad.org 🛍️ Shop Dr. Mina's recommended skincare on Aire Health: https://www.airehealth.com/skinstore/drminaskin   Dr. Mina is a board-certified dermatologist on a mission to cut through the noise and help women feel amazing in their skin again. After decades in clinic, she has taken her expertise online to offer trusted, no-fluff education and skin strategies that actually work. No filters. No fear tactics. Just science, simplicity, and a little fun!   Follow Dr. Mina here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drminaskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/ Visit The Skin Real Serenbe: https://theskinrealserenbe.com/ Book your Meet and Greet here Thanks for tuning in. And remember, real skin care is real simple when you know who to trust. Disclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.