Dr Heather MD

So grateful for my cool job✨👩🏾‍⚕️

🪸 Are marine “spicules” the new DIY microneedling?

🧽 Spicules are natural, microscopic needle-like structures harvested from marine sponges that act as physical stimulators for the skin.

⬇️ Often compared to microneedling, these tiny structures are thought to create invisible pathways that allow active ingredients to pe*****te deeper into the skin.

✅ Spicules remain embedded in the skin’s surface temporarily before naturally shedding away.

🔄 By creating a controlled “micro-injury” response, spicules may help stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover.

🚀 This ingredient is frequently used to enhance the absorption of actives such as peptides and PDRN.

🛡️ Starting concentrations typically range from 0.1% to 1% to minimize irritation. Experts also warn against combining spicule products with aggressive treatments like retinoids or strong acne medications to avoid over-exfoliation.

☀️ Should teens be allowed to use tanning beds? The FDA has officially retracted a proposal that would have banned minors from indoor tanning. The proposal would also have mandated strict safety warnings for tanning salons.

🚫 Last month, the FDA formally withdrew its 2015 “Sunlamp Products” proposal, which sought to more strictly regulate tanning bed use.

🔞 Had the rule passed, it would have prohibited anyone under 18 from using indoor tanning services.

✍️ The proposal also would have required tanning salons to provide user manuals and collect signed risk-acknowledgement consent forms from customers.

📢 The American Academy of Dermatology pushed back on the decision, citing data showing that tanning before age 20 increases melanoma risk by 47%.

🧬 A 2025 study from Northwestern and UCSF found that indoor tanning causes more severe DNA damage in skin cells than the natural aging process seen in non-tanners twice their age.

⚖️ The FDA justified the withdrawal by citing more than 8,000 public comments weighing medical concerns against arguments surrounding personal choice and small business burdens.

🌾 Aveeno is partnering with the Mayo Clinic.

🤝 Aveeno and the Mayo Clinic have signed a three-year agreement focused on research, education, and product innovation.

🧪 The partnership will involve both preclinical and clinical investigations studying how oat-based ingredients help heal the skin.

✅ Much of the research will focus on the brand’s signature “Triple Oat” complex and its ability to repair compromised skin barriers.

🏥 The collaboration combines the medical expertise of Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary physicians with Kenvue’s extensive skin health research.

📚 Beyond product development, the partnership also aims to create better educational resources for people living with chronic skin conditions.

📜 This initiative honors Aveeno’s history as the first brand to bring stabilized colloidal oatmeal to the general public while reinforcing its position in evidence-based dermatological skincare.

📩 To keep up to date with all things skincare, subscribe to my DermFriends newsletter at the top of my page.

💄 Iconic brand MAC Cosmetics is now available at Sephora!

🏬 MAC Cosmetics officially launched at Sephora US and Sephora at Kohl’s in March of this year.

📍 The brand initially became available in over 100 select Sephora locations and online, with a full nationwide rollout planned throughout the year.

🔄 This expansion marked a major shift for the 40-year-old Estée Lauder-owned brand, which had traditionally relied on standalone stores and department store counters.

✨ The “Bold Glam” launch campaign featured a trio of modern icons: pop star Chappell Roan, model Gabbriette, and creator Quenlin Blackwell.

🧪 The partnership aimed to place MAC’s professional-grade products into a space where a younger, more experimental generation of beauty lovers could easily explore them.

📩 To keep up to date with all things skincare, subscribe to my DermFriends newsletter at the top of my page.

Doctor approved sleep routine. Save this and try these tips if you can’t sleep 😴

🧴 Have you heard of Mitopure? Lancôme has partnered with a Swiss biotech firm, Timeline, to launch a new skincare line focused on skin longevity.

⚡ The core ingredient is Mitopure—a highly purified Urolithin A (a postbiotic) designed to re-energize mitochondria, the “power plants” of our cells.

✨ Mitopure works by triggering mitophagy, a cellular “spring cleaning” process where old, damaged mitochondria are recycled into healthy, high-energy ones.

🔬 The technology is the result of over 15 years of research and a significant $60 million investment in R&D by Timeline.

🌍 This partnership marks the first time Mitopure technology will be deployed at a global, mass-market scale through a major luxury brand.

🔑 Lancôme is shifting its philosophy to “decoding” aging—moving toward a proactive healthspan-focused model for skin.

🎤 I had just spent a week at the largest dermatology and skincare meeting in the country. I’m Dr. Heather, MD, board-certified dermatologist—and here’s what you needed to know from AAD 2026. This year’s meeting was a masterclass in the “longevity” revolution, shifting the focus from fleeting beauty to the healthspan of skin.

🧬 What did that actually mean? It meant keeping skin and hair looking their best for as long as possible by prioritizing cellular health. Board-certified dermatologists discussed key topics like senescence, autophagy (cellular housekeeping), and metabolic health as drivers of “skin and hair health from the inside out.”

🌸 One thing that stood out was the rise of K-Beauty in the exhibit hall, with brands like Peach Slices, Anua, and Dr. Reju-all showcasing how Korean innovation could align with clinical results.

💉 The buzz also centered on GLP-1 medications—addressing common concerns like skin laxity and hair thinning, and how to manage these side effects.

✨ It was an exciting AAD, and I learned so much. On the skincare front, K-Beauty was no longer just a trend—and it seemed poised to keep growing.

📩 To stay up to date with all things skincare, subscribe to my DermFriends newsletter at the top of my page.

📣 Do you have brand fatigue? To combat the constant visual noise from nonstop skincare marketing, a growing number of women are engaging in “visual decluttering.”
📰 This Allure article highlights the rising concept of “brand fatigue,” where people feel overwhelmed by endless attempts to sell them products.
🧴 “Visual decluttering” is a quiet rebellion against branded noise, achieved by removing labels or transferring products into unlabeled containers.
🛁 The practice isn’t just aesthetic—it helps people reclaim mental clarity in personal spaces like the bathroom.
🛍️ Some who practice visual decluttering say it has helped curb impulse shopping habits.
🏷️ Removing labels is described as a “rebranding” or “unbranding” ritual that allows individuals to embrace products more intentionally.
🧠 Ultimately, the practice encourages prioritizing formula and efficacy over branding and packaging.

💉 Imagine if you could inject your pimples at home. This might be the future of acne treatment.

🧪 Indomo is testing an at-home acne injection pen.

🌟 This Boston-based company was founded by veterans from Hims & Hers, Medtronic, and Starface.

✨ The company’s lead investigational program is ClearPen, an at-home injectable pen designed to treat inflammatory acne lesions.

🏠 ClearPen is designed to allow patients to self-administer intradermal steroids at home.

🔥 The device combines a proprietary microneedle delivery system with a reformulated version of triamcinolone acetonide, a steroid dermatologists use to rapidly reduce inflammation.

🏛️ Indomo is currently preparing for Phase 2 clinical trials to evaluate ClearPen’s safety, tolerability, and efficacy for at-home use.

🔮 Beyond acne, Indomo plans to expand its microneedle injection platform to treat other steroid-responsive skin conditions.