The Skin Real ®

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 menop...

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, ec...

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, and what the science really says. Dr. Mi...

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 rec...

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...

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 o...

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...

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...

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 o...

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...

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...

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 ne...

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...

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....

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 th...

***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 whethe...

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 wh...

📲 Download The Skin Real app for science backed routines, dermatologist guidance, and product recommendations you can trust. https://linktr.ee/theskinreal TikTok and Instagram may have made Slugging famous, but dermatologists have relied on this technique for decades. In this episode, board certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down what slugging really is, how it works, and why most...

📲 Download The Skin Real app for science backed routines, dermatologist guidance, and product recommendations you can trust. https://linktr.ee/theskinreal Botox is one of the most misunderstood tools in aesthetics. In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down what Botox really is, how it works, and why so many people confuse it with filler. She explains the difference between basic injection...

📲 Download The Skin Real app for science backed routines, dermatologist guidance, and product recommendations you can trust. https://linktr.ee/theskinreal If you use Tretinoin, get chemical peels, or are planning on a laser treatment, you are already doing skin cancer prevention. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina sits down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman,...

📲 Download The Skin Real app for science backed routines, dermatologist guidance, and product recommendations you can trust. https://linktr.ee/theskinreal Radio frequency treatments are everywhere. Med spas, dermatology offices, social feeds. But do they work and are they worth your money? In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down exactly how radio frequency works at the cellular level. Sh...

Lip lines. Barcode lines. Smoker’s lines. They frustrate patients more than almost any other wrinkle because they can age the face fast and they are not simple to fix. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down why upper lip lines form, why they are harder to treat than frown lines, and why there is no single magic solution. She explains the role of the orbicularis oris musc...

Testosterone is known as THE male hormone, yet women carry more of it than estrogen across their lifespan. In this episode, Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down why testosterone matters for women and how imbalances show up in skin, hair, and nails. You learn the visible signs of low and high testosterone, how aging differs from menopause-related hormone shifts, and why blood work alone misses the full...

Injectables can feel intimidating for many people. This episode of The Skin Real removes the fear. Dr. Mary Alice Mina walks you through the exact injectables she uses on her own face and why. You hear how her approach shifted in midlife and perimenopause. You learn how she thinks about balance, harmony, and long term skin health. She explains toxins, fillers, and biostimulants in plain language....

📲 Download The Skin Real app for science backed routines, dermatologist guidance, and product recommendations you can trust. https://linktr.ee/theskinreal Hair loss in women feels frightening and personal. You see it in the shower. On your pillow. In the mirror. In this episode of The Skin Real, Dr. Mary Alice Mina explains why female hair loss happens and what truly helps. You learn how dermatol...