Derm Next Door

Is your neck skincare’s next frontier-and is “glass skin” setting us up for unrealistic expectations?

In episode 3 of Derm Next Door, board-certified NYC dermatologists Dr. Reem and Dr. Ali discuss neck aging, cosmetic treatment trends, and the skincare promises they’re side-eyeing. From Skinvive and skin boosters to tightening devices, they explore how different treatments fit into a personalized approach—and why realistic expectations matter.

They also unpack reported complications associated with radiofrequency microneedling, including burns, scarring, fat loss, and nerve injury, and explain their reservations about the treatment. Then they tackle TikTok’s latest glass skin combination: azelaic acid and tretinoin. They love the ingredients, but question the idea of one routine working for everyone.

Plus: Ali’s unexpected encounter with NYC influencer culture, a new cosmetic market update, and Reem’s candid reviews of her Japanese skincare haul.

In this episode:

• Neck lines, crepey skin, and the role of combination treatments
• Skinvive, Sculptra, Botox, lasers, and skin tightening
• RF microneedling concerns and reported adverse events
• Azelaic acid, tretinoin, and realistic glass skin expectations
• Beauty filters, skinfluencers, and a Clinique event story
• New filler options, delayed filler reactions, and ultrasound
• Masseter Botox and the evolving cosmetic treatment landscape
• Japanese sunscreen finds from Bioré and Anessa, plus thoughts on Fino and Curél
• Travel catch-ups from Japan and Greece-and a little NYC Pilates talk

Have a skincare question you’d like us to discuss? Send it our way on social media, and follow Derm Next Door for more conversations about skin, beauty, and life in NYC.

Can a topical serum really replace filler? Is 38 the new age for a facelift? And has GLP-1 beauty officially become its own industry?

In Season 2, Episode 2 of Derm Next Door, board-certified NYC dermatologists Dr. Ali Dempsey and Dr. Reem Al-Nabti break down the beauty trends currently taking over TikTok- and separate intriguing science from very ambitious marketing.

We discuss:

• Volufiline, aka “filler in a bottle,” and the extremely limited evidence behind it • Whether new collagen-supplement research has changed our minds • Why filler is no longer the answer to every sign of facial aging • The rise of facelifts in younger patients—and why a “preventative facelift” doesn’t make much sense • GLP-1–associated facial volume loss, skin laxity and hair shedding • PRP vs. PRF and the rise of natural “cell filler” gels • Our current skincare favorites and disappointments • Ali’s chaotic experiment with tazarotene • The Korean beauty procedures Ali is considering in Seoul • The Japanese skincare and vintage shopping on Reem’s agenda

Plus: Juvelook, skin Botox, water-glow injections, Oligio, LDM, picotoning and the Korean thread lift that received an immediate “hell no.”

Follow Derm Next Door on Instagram and send us the beauty trends, treatments and products you want two dermatologists to investigate next.

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute personal medical advice. Always consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual treatment decisions.

Season two is here. Reem and Ali, two board-certified NYC dermatologists, break down the newest FDA-approved sunscreen filter in 25 years and what it means for finally getting European-level SPF in the US.

This episode covers what's hot and what's not in dermatology right now: bemotrizinol and how to actually read a sunscreen label (PA+ ratings, broad spectrum, why avobenzone degrades in your bag), whether spicule "microneedling in a bottle" treatments do anything, and an honest take on skin boosters like Skinvive and Profhilo versus Sculptra, PRF, and lasers. Reem and Ali also rate the celebrity-favorite Ivan Pohl "snatched" facial layer by layer, share how they're surviving the 100-degree NYC heat wave, and revisit what they got right and wrong across all of season one- from peptides and SPF to K-beauty, collagen supplements, and red light therapy.

New episodes drop with skincare, beauty, and aesthetic dermatology talk you can actually trust. Follow along on Instagram @DermNextDoorNYC- a season two giveaway is coming soon.

The content in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your own physician or a board-certified dermatologist for guidance specific to your skin.

Reem and Ali are back from their Euro summer adventures (London! Copenhagen!) with a packed episode 19 — the season one finale.

What's Hot: PicoToning We break down the PicoWay laser — how picosecond technology differs from heat-based lasers like Clear + Brilliant, why its photoacoustic mechanism means minimal downtime, and why it's safe for all skin types. We cover what it treats: acne scarring, melasma, sunspots (face, hands, and arms), pore size, tattoo removal, and overall rejuvenation. Plus the "pico glow," collagen banking, and what to expect (about 3 sessions, spaced 2–4 weeks apart).

Side-Eyeing: Vampire Facials PRP + microneedling is legit — in a doctor's office. We explain why med spa and at-home versions worry us, including the 2024 CDC report of HIV transmission at an unlicensed med spa, and why sterile protocol matters when your blood is involved.

What's NOT Hot: Sunburns One blistering sunburn before age 20 doubles your melanoma risk. One tanning bed session raises it 3–8x. UV is a class 1 carcinogen — and yes, we judge sunburns the way we judge cigarettes.

In the Wild: The Filler Dissolution Trend Kylie Jenner, Courteney Cox, and the pillow-face backlash. Why we're pro-reversal (and still not anti-filler), where filler works (micro droplets for smoker lines, lips), why we skip tear trough filler, and what we use under the eyes instead (PRP/PRF).

Products of the Month

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
• The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% (for KP and body)
• Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter
• Colorescience Unforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen SPF 50
• Epionce Intense Recharge Mask
• CeraVe Skin Renewing Peptide Eye Cream
• Remedy by Dr. Shah KP exfoliator + lotion

Next episode kicks off Season 2 — with a giveaway! Follow us on Instagram and send us your questions.

Episode 18 of Derm Next Door is a packed one. We're breaking down the peptide conversation from every angle — what signal peptides, neuropeptides, and carrier peptides are actually doing to your skin at the cellular level, how topical delivery compares to injectable peptides, and which ones have real clinical backing vs. just good marketing.

In What We're Side-Eyeing, we get into PP405 — the hair loss drug everyone is talking about. Phase 2a data just dropped, and we have thoughts on what the results actually show, what's still missing, and why the hype might be getting ahead of the science.

Then we hit the Met Gala 2026 red carpet. The Devil Wears Prada theme brought out Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, and more — and we're talking skin, glow, possible tweakments, and the beauty moments that stood out (for better or worse).

Segment 3 is for everyone currently on a GLP-1 or treating patients who are: we break down the major skin tightening devices — Morpheus8, Ultherapy, Sofwave, Thermage, and Emface — what they actually do, how they compare, and who each one is best for when laxity is the chief complaint.

And we close with our Products of the Month: Reem is loving the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast B5 Spray and L'Oréal EverPure Bond Repair. Ali is vouching for the Eadem Lip Balm, Summer Fridays Jet Lag Eye Patches, and SkinCeuticals P-TIOX — the peptide serum that's being called Botox in a bottle. Is it? We weigh in.

In this episode:

• Peptides: topicals vs. injectables, what the science actually says
• PP405 hair loss drug — Phase 2a results breakdown
• Met Gala 2026 skin & beauty moments
• Skin tightening devices for GLP-1 patients
• Products of the Month from Reem & Ali

Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Reem and Dr. Ali break down the viral "sunscreen contouring" TikTok trend, review Kylie Jenner's new K2O drinkable skincare, debate PDGF injections, and share their summer skincare swaps, baby skincare essentials, and Sephora Spring Sale picks.

Chapters (approximate)

• (00:00) Welcome back to Derm Nextdoor
• (01:00) What's Hot: NYC heatwave & the science of why your skin gets oily
• (03:30) Summer skincare swaps: retinol, salicylic acid, niacinamide, foaming cleansers
• (05:30) Sunscreen layering, tinted SPF & powder reapplication
• (08:00) What's NOT Hot: the viral "sunscreen contouring" TikTok trend
• (11:00) Side-Eye: platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) injections
• (14:00) Derm in the Wild: Coachella, UV index & festival sun protection
• (17:00) Kylie Jenner's K2O drinkable skincare — does it actually work?
• (22:00) Listener Q: Nutrition & skin aging (AGEs, low-carb diets, dairy & acne)
• (26:00) Listener Q: PDRN & exosomes post-microneedling — U.S. vs. Korea
• (30:00) Baby skincare 101: sunscreen, fragrance-free, soak & seal
• (33:00) Innovative brands: Bemotrizinol & postbiotics in skincare
• (36:00) Sephora Spring Savings Event picks
• (39:30) Outro & listener questions

This week we're covering what's trending (and what's tanking) in skincare right now — from the growing obsession with skin longevity to the at-home device everyone needs to put down immediately. We also weigh in on Alix Earle's new brand launch, reflect on the spectacle that was AAD 2026, and round things out with our current product picks for transitioning your routine into spring.

The Rundown

What's hot

Skin longevity is having a moment — and for good reason. We break down what "aging well" actually means from a dermatology perspective, why simplified routines are outperforming 10-step regimens, and how the science of barrier health is finally going mainstream.

What's not

At-home plasma pens. We're drawing a hard line here. We talk through why these devices are causing serious and sometimes permanent skin damage, what the risks actually look like, and why "derm-grade" marketing on a consumer device should be a red flag, not a selling point.

Side-eyeing

AI-personalized skincare is everywhere right now — but should you trust an algorithm with your skin? We get into the promise vs. the reality: what these tools can and can't assess, where the liability gaps are, and why a quiz on a brand's website is not the same as a consultation.

Derm in the Wild

Alix Earle's Reale Actives launch. Another influencer, another skincare brand — but is this one different? We look at the formulations, the marketing claims, and whether "founded by someone with acne" is a reason to buy or just a compelling story.

AAD 2026 & the sensationalization of dermatology. We just got back and we have thoughts. From social-media-ready presentations to the growing pressure on derms to perform for a public audience — we talk about what the conference got right, what made us cringe, and what it says about where the field is heading.

Product Favorites & Spring Skincare Transition

As the weather shifts, so should your routine — but not in the way most influencers suggest. We share our current product picks, talk through the swaps worth making as humidity rises and sunscreen becomes non-negotiable again, and answer the question we get every spring: do I actually need a separate spring moisturizer?

In this episode of Derm Next Door, board-certified dermatologists Dr. Ali Dempsey and Dr. Reem welcome their first ever guest: fitness trainer, Equinox instructor, and wellness influencer Ceren

Together they dive into the intersection of NYC wellness culture, skincare trends, and influencer beauty routines.

From GLP-1 weight loss medications to Sculptra, Botox, and viral skincare hacks, the conversation gets honest about what’s actually worth it-and what dermatologists are side-eyeing.

They also break down Ceren's real skincare routine (and give it a brutally honest derm score), discuss the pressure of influencer culture, and explore how wellness trends differ between New York, Los Angeles, and social media.

Plus: rapid-fire Derm Hot Takes on trending beauty and wellness topics.

Topics we cover:

• GLP-1 weight loss drugs and unexpected side effects

• The rise of Sculptra and biostimulatory fillers

• Viral skincare trends dermatologists don’t love

• Botox in your 20s-yes or no?

• Wellness culture in NYC vs LA

• The influencer brand trip world

• Ice rolling, mouth taping, red light masks, collagen supplements

• Skincare routine mistakes dermatologists see all the time

Whether you're into skincare, aesthetics, wellness culture, or dermatology, this episode breaks down what’s real vs hype.

🎧 Listen now and follow Derm Next Door for weekly dermatology hot takes.

You can now also watch the podcast on YouTube and follow us on TikTok @dermnextdoor.

Derm Next Door is back with Episode 14 and we’re breaking down Allure’s 2026 Beauty Trends Report from a dermatologist’s perspective.

Board-certified dermatologists Ali & Reem go trend-by-trend to separate marketing from medicine, including:

• The rise of retinal (retinaldehyde) over retinol
• Vitamin C upgrades and what happens now that the SkinCeuticals patent has expired
• Pre- and post-procedure skincare (and what’s actually worth the splurge)
• The future of sunscreen, luxury mineral formulas, and the new UV filter bemetrizinol (BEMT)
• The estrogen cream debate in perimenopause & menopause skincare
• Biohacking, longevity culture, and what that even means for your skin
• Injectable-inspired skincare (exosomes, PDRN, salmon sperm- yes, we went there)
• The explosion of at-home beauty devices and whether they’re worth it

We also share Ali’s real-time Fraxel experience, red light device thoughts, and our honest predictions for what 2026 will really look like in dermatology.

🎥 This episode is also available on YouTube if you want to watch the full conversation. 📲 Follow us on TikTok at @dermnextdoor for clips, skincare breakdowns, and derm hot takes.

If you want dermatologist-backed insight without the fluff — this is the episode.

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.