The Science of Skin

A Science of Skin Podcast

The Science of Skin is a podcast for those who want to be in-the-know about what's trending in topical skincare and learn about new therapies that are shaping the future of dermatologic care. Hosts  Dr. Patti Farris and Dr. Ted Lain are board certified dermatologists, recognized experts in topical skincare and co-founders of the Science of Skin Summit. In each episode, The Science of Skin will give you an insider’s view of the skincare industry.  You will hear from research scientists, formulators, and leading physician experts on how products are developed, tested, and used to treat medical and cosmetic patients.   So, if you’re interested in a behind the scenes look at what makes the skincare industry tick, subscribe to The Science of Skin today. Thanks for listening! You can also find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@scienceofskinpodcast Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician regarding any health-related diagnosis or treatment.

  1. 3d ago ·  Bonus Video

    Fixing Dermatology’s Purchasing Problem

    In this special post-Summit episode, Dr. Patti Farris sits down with Errol Clarke Jr., winner of the Investor’s Choice Award at the 2026 Science of Skin Summit’s innovation session. Errol, a recent Harvard MBA and former private equity investor, grew up inside dermatology as the son of Dr. Valerie Callender and practice executive Errol Clarke Sr. He’s now building a procurement and inventory management platform designed specifically for dermatology and aesthetic practices. Errol explains how a simple question to his mom (“How do we do our purchasing?”) led him to discover that nearly every practice he spoke with was ordering from dozens of vendors through texts, emails, phone calls, and scattered portals. His platform brings all of that into one place, tracking tiered pricing, back orders, invoice accuracy, expiring products, and samples, while letting practices keep their rep relationships. The result, he says, can be savings of 10% or more on current spend, plus clearer margins that help practices price procedures and products with confidence. Patti and Errol also discuss how the platform covers both aesthetic and medical supplies for hybrid practices, why device makers and emerging skincare brands see value in it, and how lessons from successful dental and veterinary procurement software shaped his approach. Whether you run a solo practice or a growing multi-location group, this conversation offers a look at how smarter operations can protect your margins and free up your time.

    Fixing Dermatology’s Purchasing Problem
  2. Oct 20 ·  Video

    Acne Treatment with Lasers & Energy-Based Devices: The Skincare Algorithm

    Which skincare should you use when acne is treated with lasers, IPL, photodynamic therapy (PDT), or microneedling? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain is in Paris at the L'Oréal Skin Alliance conference with Dr. Cheng-Feng Zhang, Professor of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in Shanghai. Dr. Zhang is an expert in acne, pigmentary disorders, and cosmetic dermatology. Both doctors helped write a new international consensus paper: a practical algorithm for combining skincare with energy-based devices (EBDs) for acne. It was published in February 2026 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (JDD), and Dr. Jill Waibel is the first author. In this episode they explain why the goal of acne treatment should be completely clear skin, and how prescription therapy, in-office procedures, and a good skincare routine work together to get there. In this episode: Why oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) drive acne inflammation and acne scarringHow post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) relate to acne scarsAntioxidant serums for acne-prone skin: silymarin, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), and ferulic acidWhy daily broad-spectrum sunscreen matters for acne patientsAcne and skin barrier dysfunction: ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in moisturizersGentle, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic cleansers, and whether double cleansing makes senseEnergy-based devices for acne and acne scars: blue light, red light, IPL, PDT, pulsed dye laser, fractional laser, radiofrequency, and microneedlingWhen to stop retinoids before laser and light procedures, and when to start them againThis episode is sponsored by SkinCeuticals. Have a question or an idea for a future episode? Email inquiry@scienceofskinsummit.com. ⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal clinical opinions and experiences of the speakers. It is not medical advice. Consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about diagnosis or treatment. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

    Acne Treatment with Lasers & Energy-Based Devices: The Skincare Algorithm
  3. Oct 13 ·  Video

    The Accidental Birth of SkinMedica TNS

    What started as a failed treatment for venous ulcers became one of the most influential products in professional skincare. Dr. Mitchel Goldman, co-founder of SkinMedica, tells the story of how TNS was created and why it was a "longevity" product decades before the term existed. Dr. Ted Lain sits down with Dr. Goldman, a world-renowned cosmetic dermatologist, former ASDS president, and director of cosmetic and laser surgery at Platinum Dermatology. Dr. Goldman shares how a passing comment from Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick about the skin around a wound led to the first growth factor serum. He also talks about the hard financial realities of building a skincare company and why physician-dispensed brands that invest in research stand apart. They also cover: Why the full "gemish" of growth factors, secretomes, and exosomes outperforms any single ingredientHow Dr. Goldman rotates growth factor products and lets patients' results guide the choicePre- and post-procedure skincare, and the shift toward priming fibroblasts with topical rapamycinWhether skin longevity needs multi-targeted or single-pathway productsDr. Goldman's personal cautionary tale about systemic anti-aging therapies, and why he favors topicalsHow a topical sodium bicarbonate made for athletes is now being studied in oncologyWhy aesthetic dermatology deserves a bigger place in residency trainingQuestions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at inquiry@scienceofskinsummit.com. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a five-star rating, and share it with a colleague. Follow and Listen to the Podcast Here:  🍎 Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/skincare-confidential/id1664286292 🎵 Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/033Vffp4W8A72pVRVaoWzs 📦 Amazon Music — https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7de48e5e-f450-466b-a0f4-f2275b67757f/skincare-confidential 💚 iHeart Radio — https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-science-of-skin-269540115/ 📻 Audacy — https://www.audacy.com/podcast/skincare-confidential-4398f Disclaimer: This episode is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician regarding any health-related diagnosis or treatment.

    The Accidental Birth of SkinMedica TNS
  4. Oct 8 ·  Bonus Video

    Menopause and Your Skin: The Pilocutaneous Syndrome of Menopause

    Menopause is having a moment, but board-certified dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner Dr. Corinne Erickson was connecting hormones and skin health long before it was trending. In this episode of the Science of Skin podcast, host Dr. Patti Farris talks with Dr. Erickson about how dermatologists can better care for women across the menopause continuum, from the first perimenopausal shifts to the postmenopausal years. Dr. Erickson explains her framework for making sense of the long list of concerns many women bring to the exam room, including hair loss, acne, unwanted facial hair, itching, sensitivity, and dryness. She traces them back to two key drivers: estrogen decline and relative androgen excess. The conversation covers what happens to collagen, hydration, and barrier function when estrogen drops, why vaginal estradiol belongs in the dermatologist's toolkit, what the evidence does and doesn't show about topical estrogen for facial aging and crepey skin, and how she approaches female pattern hair loss, including why she asks about hair at the start of every skin exam. She also introduces a new term she has proposed for dermatology: the Pilocutaneous Syndrome of Menopause (PSM). Like genitourinary syndrome of menopause and musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, it gives clinicians and patients a shared name and a treatment framework grounded in the underlying hormonal changes. Read Dr. Erickson's preprint, "The Pilocutaneous Syndrome of Menopause":  https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/The_Pilocutaneous_Syndrome_of_Menopause/33090086?file=66996713 If you enjoy the Science of Skin podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a colleague or friend.

    Menopause and Your Skin: The Pilocutaneous Syndrome of Menopause
  5. Oct 6 ·  Video

    Rhapsido (Remibrutinib) for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Phase 3 Efficacy Data

    Is there finally a fast-acting oral treatment for chronic hives? In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain is joined by Dr. Naiem Issa, a dermatologist in Northern Virginia and assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Miami and George Washington University, to break down the phase 3 clinical trial results for Rhapsido (remibrutinib), the first oral BTK inhibitor for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Dr. Issa explains how Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition works inside the mast cell to block the signals that lead to degranulation and histamine release, and why remibrutinib's covalent, highly selective binding helps explain its rapid onset and durable results. The doctors then walk through the pivotal trial data, including reductions in the Hives Severity Score (HSS7), Itch Severity Score (ISS7), and Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7). Patients saw about a 40% reduction in hives as early as week one, around 70% by week 12, and continued improvement through 52 weeks. Nearly 28% of patients reached UAS7 = 0, meaning complete absence of hives and itch, at week 12 compared with 6.5% on placebo, rising to almost 46% at one year. They also discuss the challenging trial population, which included patients with severe disease uncontrolled on up to four times the standard dose of second-generation antihistamines, many with angioedema, and about a third with prior anti-IgE biologic therapy such as omalizumab. Dr. Lain and Dr. Issa cover angioedema-free weeks, what complete control means for quality of life, how this data may change CSU treatment for dermatologists and allergists, and what new data on even faster onset may be coming soon. This episode is sponsored by Novartis with content independently created by the Science of Skin podcast. ⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal research findings and opinions of the speakers. It is not medical advice. The discussion involves animal studies and experimental research; consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about your own health. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

    Rhapsido (Remibrutinib) for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Phase 3 Efficacy Data
  6. Sep 29 ·  Video

    Can a Topical Serum Work Like Botox? Dermatologist Breaks Down P-TIOX

    Can a topical serum work like a neurotoxin? Recorded live in Paris, Dr. Ted Lain sits down with Dr. Peter Bjerring to find out. Dr. Bjerring is a professor of dermatology at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, a laser pioneer who helped develop IPL technology, and a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog. Together they break down SkinCeuticals P-TIOX, a serum built around two viper-venom-derived neuropeptides. One acts presynaptically, like botulinum toxin. The other blocks acetylcholine receptors on the muscle side. Both are small enough to penetrate the skin, which injectable toxins can't do. Dr. Bjerring walks through two of his clinical studies. In a split-forehead sweat study using the Minor iodine-starch test, the treated side showed little to no sweating after just three applications. That suggests the peptides really do reach their targets in the skin. In an 8-week, all-male study of 36 participants across multiple ethnicities, twice-daily use reduced forehead and glabellar lines by about 15%. Crow's feet, nasolabial folds, and even marionette lines also improved, and results kept getting better between weeks 4 and 8. The conversation also covers the supporting ingredients: 5% polyhydroxy acid for gentle exfoliation, niacinamide for barrier support, tone, and redness, and Laminaria digitata for antioxidant and collagen support. They discuss why so many self-reported sensitive-skin participants had no irritation, and how P-TIOX may pair with injectable neurotoxins to target the fine, superficial texture lines that injections miss. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share it with a colleague. Word of mouth helps our podcast grow! Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at inquiry@scienceofskinsummit.com. Disclaimer: This clip is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician regarding any health-related diagnosis or treatment.

    Can a Topical Serum Work Like Botox? Dermatologist Breaks Down P-TIOX
  7. Sep 22 ·  Video

    The Science of Slowing Aging: Rapamycin, Genes, and the Quest for a Longer Health Span

    In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, Dr. Ted Lain talks with Dr. Rich Miller, professor of pathology at the University of Michigan and director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Aging Research, about the science of slowing biological aging. Dr. Miller explains why lifespan and health span move together, not in opposition, and walks through decades of research using genetic mutants, calorie-restricted diets, and drugs like rapamycin, acarbose, canagliflozin, and 17 alpha-estradiol to extend lifespan in mice. The conversation covers how these interventions work through pathways like mTOR and glucose regulation, why some drugs affect males and females differently, and the surprising finding that many of these anti-aging effects hold up even when treatment starts in middle age rather than early in life. The two also discuss the challenge of translating mouse research to humans, Dr. Miller's work developing "aging rate indicators" that could make human drug trials for aging far more practical, and his call for more dermatology involvement in aging research — including his hope to see skin aging studied alongside the organs his lab has already examined. The episode closes with a candid take on supplement industry claims and what the current evidence actually supports for slowing aging today. ⚠️ This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal research findings and opinions of the speakers. It is not medical advice. The discussion involves animal studies and experimental research; consult a licensed healthcare provider for questions about your own health. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and share with a colleague — word of mouth helps our podcast grow!

    The Science of Slowing Aging: Rapamycin, Genes, and the Quest for a Longer Health Span
5
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

The Science of Skin is a podcast for those who want to be in-the-know about what's trending in topical skincare and learn about new therapies that are shaping the future of dermatologic care. Hosts  Dr. Patti Farris and Dr. Ted Lain are board certified dermatologists, recognized experts in topical skincare and co-founders of the Science of Skin Summit. In each episode, The Science of Skin will give you an insider’s view of the skincare industry.  You will hear from research scientists, formulators, and leading physician experts on how products are developed, tested, and used to treat medical and cosmetic patients.   So, if you’re interested in a behind the scenes look at what makes the skincare industry tick, subscribe to The Science of Skin today. Thanks for listening! You can also find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@scienceofskinpodcast Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Content provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only. Please consult with a physician regarding any health-related diagnosis or treatment.

You Might Also Like