Derm Next Door is back after a brief hiatus and we’re coming in hot.

In Episode 13, board-certified dermatologists Ali & Reem break down what’s actually trending in dermatology right now, what we’re officially side-eyeing, and the skincare products that earned a permanent spot in our 2025 routines.

We cover:

• Why Sculptra is having a major comeback and how it differs from traditional filler
• Who Sculptra is actually for (and when it’s not the right move)
• Why the industry is shifting toward more natural, collagen-stimulating treatments
• Our honest take on mesotherapy and why the data just isn’t there (yet)
• Whether facials are necessary if you have a solid at-home skincare routine
• Celebrity work decoded: Bradley Cooper, Andy Cohen, and subtle aesthetic tweaks
• Botox vs newer neuromodulators like Daxxify
• The skincare, haircare, makeup, and SPF products we truly loved in 2025

We also answer real clinic questions we get every day, from hair supplements and dandruff myths to when you should actually start Botox.

🎥 This episode is also available on YouTube if you want to watch the conversation. 📲 You can now find us on TikTok at @dermnextdoor for clips, hot takes, and behind-the-scenes content.

If you like honest dermatology takes without the fluff, this one’s for you.

Ali and Reem break down what’s actually worth it in beauty and skincare this week- from laser caps for hair loss to the Neutrogena makeup wipe recall to the sudden surge in GLP-1–related skin issues they’re seeing in clinic. The derms also dissect a TikToker’s “glow-up” routine (Face Gym, lymphatic massage, lash lifts), talk about brow lamination, share their current makeup favorites, and end with curated NYC restaurant and bar recommendations.

• 00:00 — Intro
• 01:00 — Laser Caps 101: What They Are & Who They Help
• 04:30 — Do Laser Caps Work? How Derms Actually Use Them
• 08:30 — Pricing, Brands & Why Amazon Caps Are… Questionable
• 10:30 — Neutrogena Makeup Wipes Recall (Pseudomonas!)
• 13:00 — Our Favorite Makeup Removal Alternatives
• 16:30 — GLP-1 Skin Side Effects: Hair Loss, Laxity & “Ozempic Face”
• 20:30 — Injection Reactions, Wound Healing & Treating Laxity
• 23:00 — Estrogen Creams for the Face: New Research Review
• 26:30 — Derm in the Wild: Rating a TikTok Glow-Up Routine
• 30:00 — Brow Lamination: Ali’s Itchy Experience
• 32:00 — Products of the Month (Makeup Edition)
• 35:00 — NYC Recs: Restaurants, Bars, Broadway & More
• 36:30 — Closing & What’s Coming Next

In Episode 11, we break down the truth about radiofrequency devices and why the FDA just issued a warning about their risks and unlicensed operators. We also debunk the newest TikTok craze: estrogen creams for facial rejuvenation- spoiler: zero long-term data, and possible melasma triggers. Then we side-eye knee Botox (do we secretly want to try it? yes). We also review the $650 “Red Sculpt Facial” celebrities swear by and share our current product obsessions and NYC fall favorites.

🎥 Watch the full studio episode on YouTube: @dermnextdoor

We hit double digits! In this milestone episode, Ali and Reem dig into why acids are everywhere right now- how glycolic, salicylic, and TCA actually work in skin and how to fit them into a skincare routine without annihilating your barrier. Then they explain (plainly) why thread lifts keep dermatologists unamused, unpack a Korean head spa visit, and break down the viral Victoria Nelson chemical-burn case as a cautionary tale about credentials and aftercare. They wrap with Asian beauty favorites and a few NYC spots they’re loving.

Chapters below for quick skipping. Rate/review if you learn something!

Chapters / Timestamps

• 00:00 — Intro & 10-Episode Mini-Party (why this is a passion project, what’s ahead).
• 00:45 — HOT: Acids 101 (OTC vs in-office, safe use, skin cycling basics) — AHAs/BHAs overview; glycolic/salicylic/lactic vs TCA depth and downtime; sane cadence (retinoid most nights, acids on off nights).
• 15:20 — BOTHERED: Thread Lifts — what they are, where they’re happening, complication risk, and why board-certified derms generally pass.
• 22:40 — SIDE-EYEING: Korean Head Spas — Reem’s first-hand rundown; what actually happens; what might help (and what’s just vibes).
• 29:45 — DERM IN THE WILD: Victoria Nelson Case — what likely happened, red flags (licensure, unknown chemicals, “come back to me” after injury), and what appropriate medical follow-up should look like.
• 36:05 — Product Empties & Favorites — Asian beauty highlights (Probioderm 3D Lifting Cream; Aestura Atobarrier Cream Mist), plus the Mise en Scène Perfect Hair Serum shout-out.
• 39:40 — NYC Favorites + Sign-off

We’re officially on camera! In our first filmed episode, we dive into the skincare trends that have everyone talking, from celebrity-loved facial acupuncture to FDA warnings on sunscreen mousse. We side-eye gel manicures after the EU ban on TPO, break down what peptides really do (and how to use them), and talk FDA approval + under-eye microneedling with salmon sperm. Plus, our favorite products of the month, a summer travel recap and the NYC spots we’ve been loving.

Whether you’re here for derm pearls, NYC chaos, or skincare tea, this one has it all.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: First filmed episode + new monthly format

01:00 – Hot: Facial acupuncture (celebs, science & Reedle VT needle)

03:58 – Bothered: Sunscreen mousse & FDA crackdown

07:29 – Side-Eyeing: Gel manicures & EU ban on TPO

10:40 – Derm in the Wild: NYFW trends (Botox, lasers, TikTok face taping, $160 lip balm)

14:20 – Favorite Products of the Month

16:54 – Avene Tolerance Cream, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5, The Ordinary Glycolic 7%, ZO Growth Factor

18:47 – Ask the Derm: What peptides do, best picks (P-Tiox), & how to use them in a routine

21:12 – Microneedling with salmon sperm: FDA approval, celebrity use, under-eye focus, risks

26:21 – Summer Recap

30:03 – NYC Favorites

33:35 – Fall Skincare: stronger tretinoin, hydrating sunscreens, lasers, Fraxel plans

34:26 – Outro

Where to Find Us

📺 YouTube: @dermnextdoor

📸 Instagram: @dralidempsey | @dermnextdoor | @reemskinmd

📝 Blog: www.theamaranthinecollective.com

Ali and Reem break down omega-3s for acne (and Accutane side effects), vent about periorificial dermatitis, side-eye Korean spa tourism (hi, shoulder filler and salmon-sperm injectables), and get real about freckles vs. lentigines and tattooed moles. Then it’s listener Qs on loose skin and sunburns, a quick NYC Legionnaires’ PSA, and their current Lower East Side/river-cruise recs.

Timestamps

• 00:05 – Welcome + what’s on deck
• 00:30 – HOT: Omega-3s for acne, Accutane lipid/dryness support
• 02:56 – BOTHERED: Periorificial dermatitis (triggers, what NOT to do, low-dose iso)
• 07:31 – SIDE-EYEING: Korean spa tourism (shoulder filler), PDRN “salmon sperm” warning
• 13:11 – Derm in the Wild: Freckles vs. lentigines, tattooed moles, “no lasers in summer” PSA
• 19:55 – Ask the Derm: Loose skin after weight loss (surgery vs RF microneedling, devices, body retinoid)
• 23:19 – Ask the Derm: What actually happens in a sunburn + what helps
• 26:41 – NYC Moment intro → 26:50 Legionnaires’ disease alert (what to know)
• 28:59 – NYC: BonBon (LES candy) → 29:35 Economy Candy
• 30:39 – NYC: Circle Line sunset cruise
• 31:25 – NYC Eats: Thai Diner (brunch) → 31:43 Cervos (hot take) → 32:26 Indochine (scene > food) → 32:39 Ye’s Apothecary (cocktail “prescriptions”) → 33:29 Le Dive (classic)
• 34:53 – Closing: travel plans + sign-off

In this deep-dive edition, Ali and Reem unpack everything you think you know about hair loss and a lot you probably don’t. From sudden shedding to subtle thinning, they break down what’s normal, what’s not, and what’s worth your time (and money). Whether you’re dealing with postpartum fallout or just suspicious of your widening part, this one’s for you.

Expect myth-busting, treatment truths, and a few personal confessions, including a certain derm’s failed mayonnaise mask moment.

⏱️ Highlights

00:02 – Welcome back & intro to the deep-dive format

03:30 – Hair anatomy & growth cycle basics

07:15 – Scarring vs non-scarring: the 2 P’s

09:45 – Telogen effluvium (aka the panic shed)

16:00 – Androgenetic alopecia: what to look for & when to treat

23:30 – Are laser caps legit?

27:00 – PRP: pros, cons, and price

29:10 – Alopecia areata & autoimmune triggers

30:45 – Traction alopecia & side part shame

33:00 – NYC recs: burgers and The Hamptons

34:30 – Final thoughts & scalp massage PSA

Ali and Reem are back from vacation and diving headfirst into a summer-themed episode of Derm Next Door. From debunking scalp DIY disasters to decoding laser lingo and sharing the not-so-glamorous realities of NYC in July, this episode blends skin science with real-life derm takes.

They break down the evidence behind polypodium leucotomos supplements, explain why your apple cider vinegar hair rinse probably isn’t doing much (except stinking), and walk through the lasers you’ve seen on TikTok but never truly understood. Also: hypochlorous acid spray—is it just diluted bleach or a post-Pilates lifesaver? And finally, in their signature Ask the Derms segment, they reveal what procedures they actually do, what they’re planning next, and how they stay cool in the city while still looking hot.

00:02 – What’s Hot Polypodium leucotomos 101 — the supplement for sun protection, melasma, and a little extra antioxidant armor. Shout-out to Inner Glow Gummies and our dearly missed Heliocare samples.

06:48 – Bothered: Scalp DIY Disasters From apple cider vinegar to mayonnaise, we unpack the wild kitchen treatments patients bring into the clinic — and why derms are collectively saying: please stop.

14:52 – Still Bothered: Rosemary Oil & Other Scalp Trends. Does rosemary oil actually grow hair? And what about scalp massage, amla oil, and Giselle’s no-brush routine?

19:15 – Derm in the Wild: Tina Fey Said Lasers. We break down the laser lexicon (PDL, Fraxel, IPL/BBL, Halo) and throw in some hot takes on medspas.

25:43 – Science or Scam: Hypochlorous Acid Spray. Our verdict? It’s a win. We explain what it is (dilute bleach, kind of), what it’s good for, and when to definitely not DIY it.

29:32 – Ask the Derms: Summer Survival + Maintenance Routines. Cooling hacks (parasol chic, subway hell), our honest maintenance treatments (Botox, PRP, cycling actives), and why we’re Fraxel-forward this winter.

33:15 – NYC Moments. Our favorite recent recs: Russ & Daughters, Hen House, Cafe Colmado, The Fulton at sunset, Serotonin smoothies, La Crueset cookware, soft girl bookshops, and Reem's love of fusion restaurants and container store (#TaurusCore)

36:35 – Coming Soon + Sign Off. We’re back on a more regular schedule (finally) until later in August when Reem’s off to Qatar to teach derm, and Ali’s off to Ibiza to teach… beach.