No-Nonsense Skin

One of the most common questions I was asked in clinic this week was: "If sunscreen blocks vitamin D, shouldn't I stop wearing it?" The answer is more nuanced than you might think. In this episode, we explore how your skin makes vitamin D, why sunscreen isn't the whole story, how skin tone influences vitamin D production, and why balance—not extremes—is the key to healthy skin an...

Choosing a sunscreen shouldn't feel overwhelming—but with hundreds of options on the shelf, it often does. This week, I answer one of the most common questions I hear in the exam room:  How do I choose the right sunscreen?  We talk through SPF, mineral versus chemical sunscreens, sprays, sticks, lotions, and how to find one you'll actually wear every day. No hype. Just practical ways to th...

One question kept coming up in clinic this week: Do red light masks and red light devices actually work? From rejuvenation masks to hair growth caps, red light seems to be everywhere right now—but are we asking the right question? In this episode of  No-Nonsense Skin , Dr. Erum Ilyas breaks down how she approaches this conversation in the exam room: separating the science behind red light from whe...

After more than 20 years in dermatology, I’ve realized something surprising: people aren’t overwhelmed because they don’t care about skincare—they’re overwhelmed because they care so much. In this first episode, I share the thinking that led to  No-Nonsense Skincare  and why I created this podcast. Each week, we’ll take one of the most common questions I’ve been asked in clinic and work through it...