Mental health does not need to be complicated, soft, or filled with buzzwords. In this guest episode, Dr. Dustin Portela sits down with licensed therapist and author Trey Tucker to talk about what he calls "therapy without the fluff."

Trey shares his straightforward approach to anxiety, purpose, relationships, and the challenges facing young men today. The conversation explores the mind-body connection, how emotional injuries shape adult behavior, why many men struggle with vulnerability, and how silence and self-awareness can completely change your mental health trajectory. They also dive into loneliness, modern social media pressures, fatherhood, purpose, and why chasing happiness often leads to less fulfillment.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to process what is happening inside your own head, this episode offers practical tools and grounded perspective. No jargon. No fluff. Just honest conversation about what actually helps.

About the Guest: Trey Tucker

Trey Tucker is a licensed therapist, speaker, and author of Tough Enough, a book focused on helping young men build emotional strength, purpose, and resilience. His work centers on straightforward, actionable mental health guidance designed to cut through noise and stigma.

Find Trey and his book: Website: https://toughenoughbook.com Book: Available wherever books are sold

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Psoriasis is more than just a rash. In this episode, Dr. Dustin Portela and PA Austin Lee break down what psoriasis really is, why it happens, and how treatment has completely changed over the past decade.

They explain the difference between autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease, why psoriasis is driven by inflammatory signaling pathways like TNF alpha, IL-17, and IL-23, and how that inflammation affects more than just the skin. The conversation covers plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, nail psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis, along with the serious cardiovascular and metabolic risks that can come with uncontrolled disease.

Dustin and Austin also walk through treatment options from old school coal tar and phototherapy to modern topical medications, oral therapies, and the biologic injections that have transformed patient outcomes. They discuss what to expect with lab monitoring, why biologics are far safer than many people assume, and how these medications can be life changing for patients struggling physically and emotionally.

They also touch on lifestyle factors including stress, alcohol, weight, diet, and sunlight, plus the powerful emotional toll psoriasis can take and why treating it often restores far more than just skin.

If you or someone you love has psoriasis, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a roadmap for what modern treatment can look like.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Product of the Week: Future Clinic

Future Clinic is Dr. Portela's teledermatology platform, currently available in Idaho and New York with more states coming soon. Through a simple monthly subscription starting at $50, patients can receive real medical advice, prescriptions, and follow ups directly from Dr. Portela through the app.

Spots are currently limited, so if you live in Idaho or New York and want direct access to dermatology care, you can sign up through this link.

Skincare marketing is loud, confusing, and often misleading. In this episode, Dr. Dustin Portela and PA Austin Lee break down the most common skincare buzzwords and claims so you can stop falling for hype and start making smarter decisions.

They unpack terms like clinically tested, dermatologist recommended, hypoallergenic, fragrance free versus unscented, medical grade, non comedogenic, clean beauty, and organic, explaining what each one actually means and what is mostly just marketing. You will learn why many of these labels are unregulated, how companies legally stretch the truth, and why price does not always equal performance.

The conversation also dives into influencer marketing, TikTok shop, affiliate links, filters, and before and after videos, including how social media shapes unrealistic expectations around skin. Dustin and Austin share real examples of deceptive trends, why apps like Yuka and EWG can be misleading, and how even identical ingredient lists can hide major differences in formulation.

They wrap with practical advice on how to read ingredient labels, when over the counter products make sense, how to patch test new skincare, and how to approach shopping without overspending or getting overwhelmed. Plus, Dr. Portela introduces a new telehealth option for patients who want real dermatology guidance instead of social media guesswork.

If you have ever stood in the skincare aisle feeling confused, skeptical, or unsure who to trust, this episode gives you the tools to shop smarter and take control of your routine.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Product of the Week: Future Clinic Telehealth Dr. Portela is now offering dermatology telehealth consultations through the Future Clinic app. This allows patients in Idaho and New York, with more states coming soon, to get real medical advice, prescriptions, and follow ups directly from Dr. Portela. Each visit is reviewed by him personally, with voice or video responses included. Unlimited visits start at $50 per month.

Click here: https://app.futureclinic.com/clinics/drportela/profile

Sleep is one of the most important pillars of health, but the thing you sleep on is often the most overlooked. In this guest episode, Dr. Dustin Portela sits down with mattress expert Derek Hales, Founder and Editor in Chief of NapLab, to break down how your mattress directly affects sleep quality, recovery, and overall health.

Derek has tested over 500 mattresses using objective, data-driven methods, and he explains why most people shop for mattresses the wrong way. Together, they talk through firmness, materials, price points, and why lying on a mattress in a store for two minutes tells you almost nothing about how you will actually sleep on it. They also dive into motion transfer, cooling, durability, and why many expensive mattresses are not actually better.

The conversation covers how poor sleep impacts skin disease, stress, and mental health, why most people should choose a medium-firm hybrid mattress, how much you actually need to spend, and how to choose a mattress for kids. They also discuss popular sleep tech like Eight Sleep, active cooling systems, and wearables, plus what really matters versus what is just hype.

If you have ever wondered whether your mattress is holding you back from better sleep, better recovery, and better health, this episode gives you clear, practical guidance you can actually use.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Guest: Derek Hales Founder and Editor in Chief of NapLab

Website: https://naplab.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naplabreviews/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/NapLabReviews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naplabreviews YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NapLabReviews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naplabreviews/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhales/

Stress does not cause every skin condition, but it can make almost all of them worse. In this episode, Dr. Dustin Portela and PA Austin Lee dive into the powerful connection between your mental health and your skin, an area known as psychodermatology.

They explain how stress hormones like cortisol disrupt the skin barrier, trigger flares of eczema, psoriasis, acne, and hidradenitis, and fuel cycles like itching, scratching, picking, and hair pulling. The conversation also explores conditions like prurigo nodularis, trichotillomania, compulsive skin picking, and why these symptoms are very real even when they are misunderstood.

Dustin and Austin share real clinic stories, discuss sleep deprivation, gut health, antibiotics, probiotics, and why chronic stress quietly affects everything from breakouts to healing. They also break down what actually helps, including better sleep hygiene, walking outside without distractions, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and simple daily habits that calm both the nervous system and the skin.

This episode is about treating people, not just skin. If you have ever wondered whether stress is affecting your breakouts, rashes, flares, or healing, this conversation will give you clarity, reassurance, and practical tools you can use right away.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Product of the Week: Kill Switch Sleep Cocoa Kill Switch is the melatonin free sleep supplement Dr. Portela uses to improve sleep quality without morning grogginess. It contains magnesium, GABA, L-theanine, and tart cherry extract to support deeper sleep, better recovery, and improved stress resilience. Better sleep supports better skin, better decisions, and better overall health.

Is expensive skincare really better, or is it just better marketing? In this episode, Dr. Dustin Portela and PA Austin Lee go head-to-head breaking down drugstore, mid-tier, and luxury skincare products to figure out what's actually worth your money.

They walk through every major category, including cleansers, vitamin C, retinol, moisturizers, sunscreen, and eye creams, explaining where you can save, where it makes sense to splurge, and where price makes little to no difference. The conversation cuts through common marketing buzzwords like "dermatologist recommended," "clinically tested," "clean beauty," and "non-comedogenic," translating what those labels really mean when you're standing in the aisle or scrolling online.

You'll also hear honest takes on viral skincare trends like slugging, glass skin, and skin cycling, plus real-world insights on ingredient lists, product formulations, and why consistency matters more than brand loyalty. To wrap things up, Dr. Portela shares a complete beginner-friendly skincare routine that covers all the essentials without unnecessary extras.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by skincare options or wondered whether luxury products actually deliver better results, this episode gives you the clarity you need to shop smarter and build a routine that works.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Product of the Week https://www.airehealth.com/Solutions/NjQyMDA=

Lasers can do incredible things for skin, but the way they are marketed often makes them confusing, overpriced, and misunderstood. In this guest episode, Dr. Dustin Portela sits down with dermatologist and laser company founder Dr. Ciaran Smythe to pull back the curtain on how laser technology really works and how patients can make smarter decisions.

Dr. Smith shares his unique path from orthopedic surgery to dermatology and explains why he started his own laser company, Solace Medical, with a focus on transparency, realistic expectations, and better education for both doctors and patients. Together, they break down the biggest myths in the laser industry, why downtime still matters, how to spot red flags in marketing claims, and why the person operating the laser matters more than the device itself.

They also dive into lasers for pigmentation, wrinkles, acne scars, and skin cancer prevention, including what wavelengths actually work, which treatments require real downtime, and why some clinics promise results they cannot safely deliver. This conversation is honest, practical, and packed with insights that will change how you think about laser treatments.

If you have ever considered laser treatments or felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, this episode gives you the clarity you have been missing.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Let's be real. Most New Year's resolutions fail, and it's not because you are lazy or lack willpower. It's because you've been taught the wrong strategy.

In this special episode, Dr. Dustin Portela breaks down a simple, science-backed framework for building habits that last. Pulled from a recent YouTube video, this episode explains why focusing on identity beats focusing on goals, why systems matter more than motivation, and how starting ridiculously small is the secret to real, long-term change.

Using ideas inspired by Atomic Habits, Dr. Portela walks through practical examples you can apply immediately, whether your goals involve your health, your skin, your fitness, or your daily routine. This is not about extreme makeovers or overnight transformations. It is about building habits that compound over time and actually fit into real life.

If you have ever set the same resolution year after year and wondered why nothing sticks, this episode will change how you think about self-improvement and give you a framework you can use starting today.

Follow Us: Instagram: @skinfluence_pod

This is a quick holiday check-in from Dr. Dustin Portela to say thank you. If you listened to even one episode this year, you are the reason this show exists, and we wanted to take a minute to acknowledge that.

Skinfluence has grown in ways we honestly did not expect, and 2025 has been a blast. From deep dermatology dives to guest conversations and real-world skin advice, this show has become something we are genuinely proud of, and it is because of this community.

We also want you in the driver's seat for what comes next. Big things are already planned for 2026, and we want to hear what you loved, what stuck with you, and what you want us to cover next. Head over to Instagram, follow @skinfluence_pod, and send us a message with your favorite episode or a topic you want us to break down.

However you are spending the holidays, we hope they are restful, joyful, and filled with good people. Thanks for being here. We will see you in the next episode and in an even bigger year ahead.

Happy holidays from Skinfluence. 🎁🎙️

Follow Us: Instagram: @skinfluence_pod

From viral pimple popping videos to mysterious bumps that show up out of nowhere, this episode breaks down the most common lumps and bumps people find on their skin. Dr. Dustin Portela and PA Austin Lee walk through what these growths actually are, where they come from, and when they are completely harmless versus when they need medical attention.

They cover epidermal cysts, pilar cysts, lipomas, dermatofibromas, milia, and sebaceous hyperplasia, explaining how each one forms, why some smell worse than others, and why squeezing them at home often makes things much worse. You will hear real clinic stories, including rare cases where something that looked like a simple cyst turned out to be cancer, and why sending everything to pathology is non negotiable in dermatology.

The episode also covers treatment options, what removal looks like, when to wait versus when to act, and how inflammation or infection can change outcomes. Plus, a fun but informative Did You Know segment dives into lipoma statistics and the rise of Dr. Pimple Popper, along with behind the scenes insight into what dermatologists actually think about popping culture.

If you have ever wondered whether a bump is normal, whether it is safe to pop, or when it is time to see a dermatologist, this episode gives you clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance.

Follow Us: Dr. Portela TikTok: @drdustinportela Instagram: @drdustinportela YouTube (Reactions): @208SkinDoc YouTube (Educational): @drdustinportela Pinterest: @DrDustinPortela

Austin Lee TikTok: @austinleepac Instagram: @austinleepac

Product of the Week: Shark CryoGlow and Facial Pro Glow System This at home facial device is designed to mimic professional treatments like a HydraFacial by using suction, heat, cooling, and serum infusion to deep clean pores and improve skin texture. Dr. Portela shares his firsthand experience using the device and was impressed by how much buildup it removed, even with a consistent skincare routine. The system is designed for weekly use, takes under fifteen minutes, and can pay for itself quickly compared to in office facials.

https://sharkninja.sjv.io/Vxnb1O