The Skin Real ®
Welcome to The Skin Real—your no-nonsense guide to clear, confident, and healthy skin. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by skincare, confused by beauty trends? Or stuck on the ‘hot girl’ hamster wheel of youth preservation, then you Skin Friend, are in the right place. I’m your host, Dr. Mary Alice Mina, a double board-certified dermatologist with over 15 years of clinical experience. And here’s the deal—great skin isn’t just about what you put on it. It’s about how you care for yourself from the inside and out. Here we go beyond just skincare to talk wellness, vitality, nutrition, mental well-being, hormones, and everything in between. So if you’re ready for clarity, confidence, a little fun and a whole lot of skin wisdom, here’s the tea—because this is how dermatologists talk skin.
Episodes
Download my Free Guide 'In My Perimenopause Era'
Shop my skincare favorites here.
If you're experiencing disrupted sleep, weight gain, skin sensitivity, or mood changes and your labs keep coming back “normal”—you may be in perimenopause. In this episode, I break down what perimenopause really looks like, why it often goes unrecognized, and how it directly impacts your skin health.
Too many women are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or give...
Download my Free Guide 'In My Perimenopause Era'
Shop my skincare favorites here.
The mood swings, insomnia, skin changes, and feeling like a stranger in your own body? That could very well be perimenopause and it might hit sooner than you think!
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Nazzaro, a board-certified OB-GYN and certified menopause specialist, to talk about what’s really going on during perimenopause and why so many...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Shop my skincare favorites here.
Ever feel like you’re stuck on the “hot girl hamster wheel”—chasing every new product, treatment, or device, but still not getting the results you want? You’re not alone.
In this week’s recap, I’m breaking down my top takeaways from my conversation with world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Suzan Obagi.
Dr. Obagi introduced her powerful framework, t...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Shop my skincare favorites here.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s really going on beneath the surface of your skin as you age, this episode is for you.
On this week’s episode of The Skin Real Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Suzan Obagi—board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and a true pioneer in skin health and longevit...
Still frustrated by that one area of stubborn fat, even though you’re doing all the right things? You're not alone. This week, I’m revisiting my conversation with Dr. Aria Vazirnia, a board-certified dermatologist and expert in liposuction and lipedema.
I break down what liposuction actually is (and what it’s not), how it compares to non-surgical fat reduction options like CoolSculpting, and what makes so...
Check out my top picks for skin care here.
Despite the buzz, the billboards, and the “lunchtime lipo” promises on social media, liposuction remains one of the most misunderstood procedures in cosmetic dermatology. It’s not a weight-loss shortcut. It’s not just for celebrities. And it’s definitely not an instant fix!
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Aria Vazirnia to break down the truth about what liposuction is, what it isn’t, ...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Shop my skincare favorites here.
In this episode of The Skin Real Podcast, I break down the top 5 reasons why working with an esthetician might be the missing link in your skincare routine — even if you already have a dermatologist.
If you’re confused about what estheticians actually do (or whether you even need one), this episode is for you. I talk about how esthe...
Looking for help with your skin but overwhelmed by too many products and not enough clarity? You’re not alone. One of the most common questions I hear in my dermatology practice is: “How do I find a great esthetician?”
Whether you’re new to facials, trying to streamline your routine, or looking for someone to guide you through seasonal skin changes, partnering with the right skincare professional can make all the difference. That’s...
Still experiencing breakouts despite using all the right products? You’re not alone and no, your skin isn’t just “acting up.” It’s responding to stress.
In this week's recap episode, I unpack the key takeaways from my conversation with Dr. Keira Barr, a board-certified dermatologist who’s become a leading voice in psychodermatology. I talk about how your skin is biologically wired to respond to emotional s...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Shop my skincare favorites here.
Tired of blaming your breakouts on your moisturizer? The real culprit might be stress.
In this episode, Dr. Mina speaks with Dr. Keira Barr, a leading dermatologist, about the deep (and science-backed) connection between your mind, your stress levels, and your skin. From breakouts to rosacea and hormonal shifts, Dr. Barr explains h...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Get my free PDF on How to create Healthy Skin Habits here.
Download the free eBook 'Skincare Myths Busted' here.
If your skincare routine is starting to feel like a second job and your self-care checklist is leaving you more exhausted than empowered, this episode is for you.
In today’s recap, I dive deep into the “Edit” pillar of my R.EA.L. Skin Method. This is abo...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Shop my skincare favorites here.
On this week's episode of the Skin Real Podcast, I’m getting real about something I see every day as a dermatologist and as a woman: skin care overwhelm. The trends, the steps, the products…it’s a lot. And honestly? It’s mostly unnecessary.
After two decades as a board-certified dermatologist, I’ve created ...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
Can you really get help for your acne or eczema over a video call? Yes—and in this recap episode, Dr. Mina tells you how.
With so many of us juggling packed schedules and long wait times for in-person visits, Dr. Mina explores how virtual dermatology appointments are not only a convenient alternative but, in many cases, an incredibly effective one.
She breaks down exactly how t...
The Skin Real app is officially LIVE! Download it now.
In this episode, Dr. Mina chats with Dr. Tara Akunna, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of a virtual dermatology practice in Texas. Together, they dive into how teledermatology is making skin care more accessible, affordable, and flexible, especially for patients juggling full-time jobs, childcare, or long travel distances.
From treating acne and eczema online to addr...
Are you secretly dodging the doctor’s office out of fear it might hurt? You’re not alone—and it’s more common than you think. In this week’s episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mina dives into the real reasons so many of us avoid care and shares her top five ways to make your next dermatology visit actually less painful. Whether it’s fear of needles, past trauma, or just not wanting to be poked and prodded, this episode is p...
Check out my top picks for skin care here.
Why do so many of us avoid going to the doctor—even when we know we shouldn’t? In this episode, Dr. Mina sits down with Dr. Manju Dawkins to unpack the deeply human fear that keeps patients away from the care they need. From needle phobia to fear of diagnosis, this conversation dives into the emotional blocks that sabotage our health and skin wellness.
Together, they explore how to replace...
If you're a midlife woman still chasing the "anti-aging" dream, this episode is your invitation to shift the narrative.
I’m sharing my key takeaways from my chat with Dr. Jen Haley—what biohacking actually means, how it applies to women in their 40s and 50s, and which trends are worth your time (and which ones you can let go of). It’s all about working with your biology—not against it—to feel strong, energized, and radiant for the ...
Check out my top picks for skin care here.
If you're in your 40s or 50s and wondering why your skin suddenly feels different or why the products and routines that once worked now fall flat, you're not alone. In this episode of THE SKIN REAL, I sit down with fellow board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jen Haley to discuss the changes that happen to our skin during midlife.
We talk about why the goal shouldn’t be “anti-aging,” but rathe...
If you’ve ever spent a summer chasing your child around with a bottle of sunscreen or panicked over a rash that showed up after camp, this episode is for you!
In this recap episode, I summarize the most important points from my recent interview with pediatric dermatologist Dr. Luke Johnson.
I cover the myths around food restrictions and eczema (please stop cutting out gluten unnecessarily), how to choose the right sunscreen withou...
Get Dr. Mina's free PDF on How to create Healthy Skin Habits here.
Download the free eBook 'Skincare Myths Busted' here.
If you're a parent, you've probably questioned what's truly safe for your child’s skin. From the great sunscreen debate to managing chronic eczema, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even misled by the sheer volume of information out there.
On this episode of THE SKIN REAL, Dr. Mina is joined by Dr. Luke Johnson...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.