The Skin Real ®

Exosomes are one of the most talked about ingredients in skincare right now, but most people buying them have no idea what they are actually paying for. In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina sits down with Alisa Lask, CEO of Rion Aesthetics and lead of Plated Skin Science, to break down what exosomes really are, why the source they come from matters more than the word on the label, and how platelet-derived exosomes differ from plant...

In Part 2 of this mini series on Collagen Loss, Dr. Mary Alice Mina moves from biology to action: the exact morning and evening skincare routine that makes sense for post-menopausal skin, which ingredients actually have evidence behind them, and which in-office treatments are worth the money. She walks through why a routine built for oily 20-something skin works against you later, then breaks down a simple AM routine (gentle cleans...

In the first half of a two-part episode on midlife skin, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down the biology behind one of the most alarming stats in dermatology: women can lose up to 30% of their skin's collagen in the first five years after menopause. She explains why collagen decline actually starts as early as your 20s (about 1% a year), why estrogen loss accelerates that process dramatically at menopause, and why "collagen banking" ea...

In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina sits down with fellow board-certified dermatologist Dr. Amaris Geisler, a specialist in vulvar dermatoses based in Atlanta, to break the silence around a body part most women can't even name correctly — the vulva. They cover what the vulva actually is (versus the vagina), the most common conditions dermatologists see there (lichen sclerosis, eczema, psoriasis, and even ski...

Salmon sperm in your skincare? It sounds wild, but PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) is everywhere right now — on your For You page, in Korean skincare hauls, and yes, Kim Kardashian had it injected into her face. In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina cuts through the hype and gives you the full, unfiltered picture on what PDRN actually is, where it comes from, an...

Fungal acne is everywhere on social media, but most people are treating it completely wrong. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down what fungal acne actually is: an overgrowth of malassezia yeast, not bacteria, and not true acne at all. She explains why standard acne treatments often fail, who's most at risk (think sweaty workouts, humid climates, tight clothing, and recent antibiotic use), and how to tel...

Sunscreen is the single most impactful thing you can do for your skin — and in this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down exactly what to look for, what to skip, and which sunscreens she's personally stocking up on for summer 2026. Dr. Mina explains why UV radiation is responsible for the majority of premature aging and skin cancers, and why the U.S. has fallen behind the rest of the world in UV filter tec...

Your skincare routine might be missing its most important ingredient — and it's not in any bottle. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down the powerful (and often overlooked) connection between protein and skin health. She explains the four root causes of skin aging — collagen depletion, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular waste buildup — and why what's on your plate dire...

Topical estrogen is everywhere right now — but if you have melasma, rosacea, or acne, should you be worried? In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina cuts through the fear-based noise and breaks down what the science actually says about topical estrogen and skin conditions like melasma and rosacea. She shares her own personal experience with melasma, explains why estrogen alone isn't enough to trigger it, and walks through what t...

In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down two of the most talked-about biostimulators in aesthetic medicine — Sculptra and Radiesse — and explains why they are not interchangeable, despite both building collagen. She covers how each product works at a cellular level, what to realistically expect after treatment (including the swelling that disappears in the first week), how long results last, whi...

Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down the top five tretinoin mistakes she sees her patients make — and admits she's made herself. From the dreaded purge to layering too many actives, she explains why so many people quit this powerhouse ingredient right before it starts working, and exactly how to use it correctly. She covers the difference between purging and irritation, the right amount to apply, how often to use it, why it's not ...

In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down everything you need to know about your skin barrier — what it is, how you know it's damaged, and exactly what's causing the damage. She then walks through eight practical, zero-cost steps to repair it fast. From doing a hard skincare reset to applying moisturizer the right way, Dr. Mina cuts through the noise and reminds listeners that when it comes to a damaged skin barrier, l...

In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down one of her most frequently asked questions: should you be putting topical estrogen on your face? She explains what estrogen loss actually does to the skin during perimenopause and menopause — from collagen collapse to barrier breakdown — and why these changes are hormonal, not just "normal aging." Dr. Mina walks through the two main forms of topical estrogen (estriol and ...

LED face masks are having a major moment — but are they actually worth the hype?

In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down the real science behind LED light therapy and why so many people are spending hundreds of dollars on devices that simply don't work.

She explains the concept of photobiomodulation, which wavelengths of light actually have clinical evidence behind them (blue, red, and near-infrared), and which color...

Bed bugs. Just the phrase is enough to make your skin crawl — but Dr. Mary Alice Mina is breaking down everything you actually need to know about these tiny, relentless pests. In this episode of The Skin Real, she covers what bed bugs are, how they spread, why not everyone reacts to bites the same way, and — most importantly — how to protect yourself before, during, and after travel. You'll learn exactly how to in...

You've probably Googled "how to remove a skin tag at home" at least once. Before you reach for the dental floss, you need to hear this. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina covers everything you need to know about skin tags — from what they actually are and why you get them, to what they might be revealing about your metabolic health, and how she safely removes them in her office.

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Think you know what's causing your under-eye bags? You might be wrong — and that's exactly why nothing you've tried has worked. In this solo episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down the four distinct types of under-eye concerns: puffiness, fat pad herniation, volume loss/hollowing, and dark circles from pigment or vascularity. She explains how to identify which type you're dealing with, because the biggest mistake most people...

***Apple audio issue fixed!

NAD is having a major moment — from IV drips and supplements to wellness clinics and now skincare. But is the science real, or is it just the next CBD? In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina sits down with Melisse Shaban, CEO of Aramore and veteran beauty executive (Revlon, Aveda, The Beauty Shop), to break down exactly what NAD is, why your skin cells need it, and whether the new wave of NAD skincar...

If you are using a GLP-1 medication and noticing hair shedding, brittle nails, or dull, dry skin, your body is signaling a nutrient gap. In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down what is really happening beneath the surface and why these changes often appear before lab results do. She explains how appetite suppression can lead to low protein, vitamin deficiencies, and dehydration, all of which directly impact your skin, hair...