Skincare has always borrowed terminology from medicine, but lately the vocabulary has become considerably more futuristic. Products and treatments promising “cellular regeneration,” “DNA repair,” exosomes, growth factors, and even “salmon DNA” are appearing everywhere from dermatology offices to social media feeds. Two ingredients getting particular attention are PDRN and exosomes. [...]

Isotretinoin—often still referred to by its former brand name, Accutane—has been one of dermatology’s most effective treatments for severe and treatment-resistant acne for decades. But the traditional approach to isotretinoin treatment isn’t the only way dermatologists may use this medication. Increasingly, patients are hearing about “microdosing Accutane,” a popular term [...]

Sometimes the simplest skincare products are the easiest to underestimate. Hyaluronic acid masks don't exfoliate, resurface, or dramatically accelerate cell turnover. Instead, they do something much more basic—and extremely important for healthy skin: they hydrate. We especially like biocellulose masks when skin feels dry, tight, stressed, or simply needs an [...]

Have you heard about the kitchen-sink “pore-clearing” mask? Raw egg whites, sometimes mixed with lemon, honey, or baking soda is emerging as the latest pore cleansing craze. The promise is familiar: tighter skin, smaller pores, and blackheads that lift away as the mask peels. If you have tried this and [...]

We frequently see patients who used tanning beds in their teens or twenties and now face early skin cancers or significant photoaging. The desire for a quick, even tan is understandable—especially before events or during long Minnesota winters—but the science on indoor tanning is clear and concerning. Tanning beds and [...]

We regularly see patients who are excited about the complementary benefits of azelaic acid and tretinoin—clearer pores, faded dark spots, calmer redness—only to arrive frustrated by unexpected redness, flaking, or stinging after combining them. If you’ve read that these two ingredients “work well together” and layered them on the same [...]

Have you heard about zinc oxide’s soothing, protective benefits and wondered whether the thick white cream from the baby aisle can double as a facial treatment? If you’ve scrolled past “face-basting” trends or considered swapping your sunscreen for a tube of diaper rash ointment, you’re far from alone. Zinc oxide [...]

Often described as a “brick wall,” the skin barrier (stratum corneum) consists of skin cells (“bricks”) held together by lipids (“mortar”)—primarily ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. It keeps moisture in, irritants and bacteria out, and supports overall skin health. When damaged, transepidermal water loss increases, leading to inflammation and sensitivity. [...]