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Your 20s are one of the most important decades for your skin. While many people are still dealing with acne and oily skin from their teenage years, this is also the decade when early signs of aging, sun damage, and changes in skin texture begin to appear.
In this episode of Skinside Out, the team explores how your skin changes throughout your 20s, why prevention is so important, and which skincare habits can set you up for healthier skin in the decades ahead. They discuss adult acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, sunscreen, retinoids, lifestyle factors, and the cosmetic treatments that can help maintain healthy, youthful-looking skin.
Whether you're in your early 20s, approaching 30, or helping someone navigate their skincare journey, this episode provides practical, dermatologist-approved advice for building a strong foundation for lifelong skin health.
00:00 – Introduction: Skin in your 20s
00:40 – Why your 20s are a major transition decade
01:15 – How your skincare habits now affect future aging
02:15 – The first signs of aging people notice in their 20s
03:00 – Collagen, elastin, and changing skin biology
03:35 – Why oil production starts to change
04:15 – Social media, skin comparisons, and unrealistic expectations
05:10 – Why prevention becomes so important in your 20s
06:00 – Understanding adult acne
06:45 – How hormonal acne differs from teenage acne
07:20 – Lifestyle factors that contribute to breakouts
08:15 – Stress, sleep, and their impact on skin health
09:00 – Why over-exfoliating can make acne worse
09:45 – The importance of protecting your skin barrier
10:20 – Treating post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
11:00 – Why controlling acne is the first step to treating dark spots
11:45 – Chemical peels, brightening treatments, and acne management
12:30 – Why picking at acne causes lasting damage
13:20 – Fine lines, wrinkles, and early signs of aging
14:15 – When people start noticing changes in skin texture
15:00 – The rise of preventative Botox and Baby Botox
16:00 – Common misconceptions about Botox
17:00 – Botox, TMJ relief, and additional benefits
18:10 – The skincare ingredients everyone should consider in their 20s
18:45 – Why retinoids remain a gold-standard treatment
19:20 – Vitamin C, moisturizers, and building a routine
20:00 – Why sunscreen is the most important anti-aging product
20:45 – Sleep, stress, alcohol, vaping, and skin health
22:00 – How diet influences acne and inflammation
24:30 – Popular cosmetic procedures for patients in their 20s
25:00 – Microneedling for prevention and skin rejuvenation
25:45 – Chemical peels and laser treatments
26:15 – Laser Genesis and Tone & Clear treatments explained
27:20 – Creating a personalized treatment plan
28:00 – Why skin checks should start in your 20s
28:45 – Melanoma, atypical moles, and early detection
29:10 – Final advice for protecting your skin and aging gracefully
29:45 – Closing thoughts
Creators and Guests
Host
Host
What is Skinside Out?
Welcome to Skinside Out, where science meets beauty, the ultimate dermatology podcast! Dive deep into the fascinating world of skin health with expert insights, evidence-based discussions, and myth-busting truths. Each episode explores the medical, cosmetic, and surgical aspects of dermatology, while keeping you informed about trending skincare topics. Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, medical professional, or just curious about how to achieve your best skin, Skinside Out is your go-to resource for staying informed and inspired.
57 - Skinside Out
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Dr. Zain Husain, MD: [00:00:00] Welcome to Skin Side Out. I'm your host, Dr. Zane, with Heather and Courtney. So today we're continuing our series through the decades. We're doing the '20s from the skin side out. So let's get right into it
Courtney Carroll, LE: I was a girl in her 20s.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: You wish.
Courtney Carroll, LE: No, I, I've had multiple patients today- All
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: right. So we're all- ... beyond this decade now.
Heather Murray, PA-C: We have experience.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yes.
Courtney Carroll, LE: We're 20s in our soul. Uh-huh. Um, but 20s historically I feel like is a very, um, shifty time for people, because you're dealing with kind of a lot of like the acne that's kind of carried o- carried over from puberty.
You're kind of starting to see those like early signs of like freckling and sun damage, things like that. Um, stress-
Heather Murray, PA-C: You come to the realization that you're like actually gonna age.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. That's the scary-
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: How depressing. Yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: [00:01:00] Yeah, the first tiny little hints- Yeah ... start showing up. I feel like I've had a couple patients even, I had one today, a girl, 21, she's like, "My, um, frown lines are starting to be apparent."
I said, "Girl, like- Yeah. ... you've got time." But yeah, I think we start taking notice of things definitely in our 20s- Yeah ... um, that are, you know, hanging around a little bit longer. Um, we start focusing, you know, more.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. I do think it's a, a transition decade. Mm-hmm. Um, so from puberty and adolescence to adulthood, like there is a shift hormonally.
There is a shift in how our skin behaves, and I think that if we can, you know, set you up for success in this decade, you will be totally, you know, primed for the rest of your life.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Oh, yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Whatever you do in your 20s is dramatically gonna influence- Mm-hmm ... your 30s, your 40s, and-
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. Have you heard that phrase, like the best thing, you know, like in your 50s is wearing sunscreen in your 20s or [00:02:00] taking care of your skin in your 20s- Mm-hmm
because you will look good by that age. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So it is true. I mean, this is an important decade. Um, your skin starts to change, and your behaviors and actions have a huge impact in the trajectory of how your skin's gonna age.
Courtney Carroll, LE: And I think setting up like that kind of like routine or like that, you're, you're s- you're starting good habits- Mm-hmm
you know, that you will likely carry on through- Yeah ... the decades.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. Yeah. You kind of like have this routine- Mm-hmm ... the foundation. Yeah. And you just will continue it.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Okay. So in our 20s you said that we start noticing, you know, changes. So what specific changes are we seeing?
Courtney Carroll, LE: I think, um, one that I see most, um, would be, like, kind of the start of, like, little freckles going on, and sometimes again, like, uh, a little bit more noticing on, like, the fine lines, especially towards, like, the mid or late 20s.
Um, you know, maybe, like, a, a hint of the forehead wrinkles or a little crow's feet, or you might notice your nasolabial folds a little bit more. So I think just those small little, um, [00:03:00] changes is what we tend to notice.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah. In your early 20s your collagen and elastin are still pretty, um, um, supple. But kind of mid to late 20s you do start to notice that, like, um, loss of elasticity, um, maybe less, um, collagen production over time, and so that can present as Courtney just mentioned.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Less oil production. Mm-hmm. And guys, when I hit 27, 28, like, as a girl that used to be so oily she would carry blotting papers around- As someone that used to use those five, two glycolic salicylic acid pads twice a day- Mm.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah Oh, wow. I know a lot of people
Courtney Carroll, LE: do that. Like like I feel like in my late 20s I started noticing a shift in, like, my oil production- Mm
and noticing that I can't use certain things as often.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. I definitely noticed, um, like fine lines and wrinkles- Mm-hmm ... definitely starting, and I attribute it to the stress of med school.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yes. Yeah, or lack of sleep.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Lack of sleep. Um- But
Heather Murray, PA-C: your skin cells [00:04:00] actually turn over slower.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Um, so I just felt, oh, okay, this is just part of life.
Um, but as I entered training and realized that there are ways to mitigate or even reverse some of this, I found that really interesting, and kind of piqued my interest in cosmetic dermatology.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah. And lifestyle too- Mm ... can make a really big difference in your 20s. Um-
Courtney Carroll, LE: It's so interesting. I feel like on social media right now, I've seen a lot of videos, um, and even you guys know I'm big on Reddit, but, you know, even on Reddit, like, people are constantly...
I just saw a post yesterday of a girl no more than, like, 26, and she's like, "Do I... Does my skin look right for, you know, my age?" And so I think a lot of people are kind of like... There was a girl that went viral a couple months ago for being in her 20s, and, like, I hate to say it, but her skin was like it just looked aged.
It looked very aged, and a lot of people were, like, kind of- Mm ... um, you know, on her about it. Mm. And so I, I think it's kind of interesting that we're, [00:05:00] 20-year-olds specifically are taking more notice to, to those things.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: I mean, I think that's the generation that's grown up with social media- Yeah ... and everything's visual, everything's on Instagram.
Um, people are kind of bombarded by these images constantly, and they're comparing themselves.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. And I think also everyone's skin is going to be different. And, you know, genetics play a huge part. Um, yeah, lifestyle factors. So I think it's not fair necessarily to compare yourself to some other people, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. And even geographically, like, if you're living in climates that are a lot sunnier, warmer, I mean, you may have, you know, more sun damage just by virtue of where you live.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Um, so that's always something that you can also, um, take into account.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's why prevention is, I think, so heavily focused on during this decade of your life.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: So let's go into specific, um, changes [00:06:00] and concerns that we see in our 20s. So let's talk about adult acne, 'cause we see a lot of patients- Mm-hmm ... with adult acne.
Heather Murray, PA-C: I always get that comment that, like, "I feel like I'm a teenager again." Yep. And, you know, ac- adult acne is a real thing, and it is very common.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So don't feel bad about yourself if you're having acne in your 20s.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. I think we see that shift from, like, the teenager kind of acne of maybe, like, kind of those, like, small whiteheads and papules- Mm ... in, especially in, like, women in their 20s to that more hormonal- Yeah ... cystic acne.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. I mean, I suffered from acne throughout most of my 20s until I went on Accutane.
But, you know, I was doing all the right things, had a great skincare routine. I did literally everything, and I still was breaking out.
Heather Murray, PA-C: I feel like I, I definitely didn't really experience acne as a teenager. Mm. But then in my 20s I did.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Okay. 'Cause I recall an episode, and I'll pull it, where we were telling [00:07:00] why we got into dermatology- 'Cause I had
Heather Murray, PA-C: adult acne.
Okay. Not because I had... You were like- I'm trying to explain. I, yeah, I didn't, definitely didn't really have acne as a- Courtney calling her out.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Roll the tape. I,
Heather Murray, PA-C: I totally still agree with that. Yes, I did not have acne when I was a teenager, but I had it when I was an adult. And I feel like I, like, noticed that there were things that I was doing that was impacting my skin a lot easier.
Like, I did gymnastics growing up, and I had sweat sitting on me for- Mm ... hours. And, like, when I was in my 20s, I really struggled to, like, figure out, like- Mm ... letting sweat sit on my face is causing my acne, or, like-
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm ...
Heather Murray, PA-C: my diet really influenced my acne too, and my stress, and hormones. Yeah. And I feel like I was more, um...
I had an easier time, like, bouncing back as a teenager, and I would just- Mm-hmm ... like, roll with it, and I wouldn't have any issues. But then I started noticing, like, in my 20s, that's when I... My lifestyle was, like, [00:08:00] influencing- Mm-hmm ... my skin more.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I think things linger longer too. Oh,
Heather Murray, PA-C: yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. I feel like when I was, like, a teen I would put, like, a glob of toothpaste on a acne bump and just like...
Oh, my God. It's gone the next day.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. And I was really self-conscious about it. Um, I hated having acne because- A, I already looked young, and when I was seeing patients, they just thought I literally was a teenager. You're like, yeah. 13 years old.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Just
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: still breaking out- ... and everything. So it, it really did irk me and annoy me.
And you know, like, acne is not fun at any age, but when you're trying to kind of establish yourself as an adult- Mm-hmm,
Heather Murray, PA-C: mm-hmm ...
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: an authority figure. And a professional or- Yep ...
Heather Murray, PA-C: yeah, mature.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Um, it's very hard
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah ...
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: to carry that air when you're, like, breaking out actively. Yeah. Yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. I think our 20s are a time of, obviously, a lot of, like, stress and turmoil.
I mean, you're- Mm-hmm ... coming out of college. You haven't really nailed down, like, your- No ... life at all yet. Yeah. I mean, you're, like, fueled off of, like, yeah, like, six hours of sleep, and- Mm-hmm ... it's, like, totally okay. [00:09:00] Like, you can just run off of nothing. Mm-hmm. Yeah. You know, you're eating crap food and-
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah
Courtney Carroll, LE: not drinking enough water and,
Heather Murray, PA-C: yeah. I think another problem that most people have dealing with acne in their 20s is they tend to, like, um, overcompensate or, like, they're over-exfoliating. Mm-hmm. They're trying to, like, dry out their acne. Mm-hmm. Maybe trying, like, a bunch of viral trends- Mm ... or, like, a 10-sk- step skincare routine.
Mm-hmm. And oftentimes we're ending up making it worse.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. More is not better.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: I remember when I was a med student, like, when my breakouts, I would just take my Retinoid and just glob it on. And literally have, like, my face falling off. Peeling,
Heather Murray, PA-C: yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: And like, more is not better.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah. Thankfully, those, like, pimple patches are, um, in style.
Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. Um, and then that leads to the discussion of the skin barrier. Like, a damaged skin barrier does lead to inflammation, and that can also create, you know, more redness, oil production, acne [00:10:00] breakouts. So that's also something that's really big in, you know, dermatology now, discussing that skin barrier and how we can repair it because chronic inflammation and dryness is not good for your skin.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Mm-hmm. Um- And I think that can also turn into, like, PIH, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. And, um, you know, I think in your 20s if you're dealing with adult acne, you start to realize that, um, there are obviously, like, things that you can do to treat the acne, but- Mm-hmm ... if you're picking at your acne, then you've got a whole nother problem.
Yeah. Lots of different treatments for hyperpigmentation, but in general, like, one of the biggest things is sunscreen. Like, obviously sunscreen- Mm-hmm ... can help you in numerous ways, but it can prevent those hyperpigmented spots from hanging around long term.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. And what I always tell my patients, especially those who are suffering from hyperpigmentation, the best treatment is actually treating the acne.
Mm-hmm. So you can stop that cycle- Yeah ... and not get these new spots and, you know, [00:11:00] reiterate this entire pattern. So, you know, getting your acne under control is really important. When you do have it under control, sunscreen's huge. Using some brightening agents can be helpful, so I love vitamin C serums.
Retinoids also exfoliate the skin, help with hyperpigmentation. And, um, you know, you can also use some topicals that help to brighten your skin, like hydroquinone, tranexamic acid, things like that. Um, Courtney, you see a lot of patients with acne and PIH. Mm-hmm. Um, what do you do from a treatment standpoint?
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. It's funny. I call it, like, chasing the dragon, where, you know, people wanna do... I, I have a lot of... Not a lot, but I've definitely seen quite a few p- patients who wanna jump into things like microneedling or- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm ... like even chemical peels, which I don't mind doing. Like, like they want, like, more of, like, a deeper peel for, like, you know, the pigmentary changes, and they're still having a lot of active breakouts.
And I'm like, "We need to get to the root first." You know, I will always recommend a consult with you guys- Yeah ... to get put on some acne meds, and then, you know, we can start fixing things. But yeah, I mean, I love a chemical [00:12:00] peel. I think- Mm-hmm ... salicylic acid peels are so underrated for acne. Mm-hmm. And especially people who stay on a monthly regimen with ac- with the salicylic acid peels.
I have had, like, phenomenal results, um, even just with that or glycolic acid. Um, and then yeah, you know, once the active acne is under control, doing something like a deeper peel- Yeah. Mm-hmm ... um, or some kind of laser to help with that pigmentary change is so helpful. But yeah, getting to the, the bottom line, again, if you keep making acne, you're gonna keep making marks.
So we're just- Yeah. Yeah, you're in that cycle. It's like the, the snake eating its own tail.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: And don't pick at your acne. You don't wanna cause more trauma, more inflammation, leading to more hyperpigmentation. Um, it's just always better to, you know, leave your hands off of it, let the medicines do the work.
Um, maybe do, like, a chemical peel or some other treatment, but just don't pick at it, because you are inducing trauma.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: And you can also make it worse. Oh,
Courtney Carroll, LE: 100%.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: You can get another infection. I've done that to myself before. Mm-hmm. And I still have, [00:13:00] like, scars from that.
Courtney Carroll, LE: And sometimes there's nothing there- Mm-hmm
especially on those cystic acne ones. Oh, yeah. You will not get that core because it's not e- it's inf- it's mostly inflammation. You know? Mm-hmm. You're, you're squeezing out inflammation. Um, so yeah, I've ran the experiment many, many times on myself, so you don't have to. But whenever you manipulate- Mm-hmm
that spot, it will hang around longer than if you had just left it
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: alone. And if it's really bothering you, just see your dermatologist- Mm-hmm ... and we'll inject it with some steroid, and it works like a charm.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. Okay. Um, what other findings are we seeing in our 20s? Um, so let's talk about some of the, you know, these first signs of aging.
So fine lines and wrinkles.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah, I think a lot of people start to notice fine lines around their eyes or on their forehead. You might feel like your skin is, um, a little dull or not have as much radiance, um, maybe uneven skin tone, and some dehydration. And a lot of times the dehydration can accentuate the fine [00:14:00] lines, but your fine lines are not quite, like, set in deep just yet.
Mm-hmm. So there are some things that you can do, um, to hydrate the skin. And I think not only for just, like, um, these little aging signs, but just in your 20s in general, I think When you start to notice these changes, especially, I don't know how you guys feel, but like when I notice them, I was like, "Has this been around?"
Like- ... how long has this been there? Like, has this always been there, I'm just now noticing it? Or is this ju- just like the new me- Mm-hmm ... and that's how it is? Um, I don't know. I felt like this kind of like, "Oh my gosh, have I like not been-" Mm ... "paying attention at all to my skin-" Mm-hmm ... "and I'm just now seeing it?"
But it's probably not the case, it's just that you're slowly starting to develop those signs.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. It's like a light switch. Like, I, I think- Yeah ... it has been there, but you know, as, again, with more social media and more looking at ourselves in the mirror, yeah, we tend to like pick apart things and we're like, "Oh, yeah, why is that there?
It shouldn't be there." Yeah.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah. Yeah. [00:15:00]
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: And I am seeing more patients in their 20s seeking treatment, uh, for these fine lines and wrinkles, namely neurotoxin. Um, so we're seeing more requests for treatment with baby Botox, um, lower doses to help with, um, reducing those fine lines and wrinkles, also improving texture, um, having that glass skin appearance, that poreless skin, um, that Botox can help with.
And I don't think it's a bad thing.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I know. I don't think you should shame it. It's a very hot topic. Mm-hmm. Because there are people out there saying- Mm ... I just heard a podcast the other day, someone saying, "Well, if you get baby Botox, you're deadening those muscles and you're gonna have more laxity when you get older-" Mm.
and blah, blah, blah." That's not true. And I was like-
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Not true ...
Courtney Carroll, LE: as, as someone that started at 21.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Mm-hmm.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I don't wanna hear it.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. I started when I was 26. Um, and you know, part of our residency we learn how to inject, and we would inject on each other. And you know, I thought [00:16:00] that the results were awesome. I really like them, and I kind of kept up with it since.
And I do feel like it's helped me with my aging process. I look at some of my peers my age, I feel like I look a lot more youthful than them. My skin looks better than theirs. Um, it's just one of those things that-
Courtney Carroll, LE: Soft brag. Hey.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Um, I do feel like, um, you know, if a patient is concerned about it, it is an option that, you know, I bring up with them.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: And there should be no shame a- around it, and you shouldn't be judged for it. You know, if it makes you feel better and, you know, there's no harm being done- Mm-hmm ... to your skin. Mm-hmm. If anything, it helps.
Heather Murray, PA-C: What are your thoughts on, um- Masseter tox accentuating the jowls
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: So I do think that with older patients, um, and having, you know, the injection in the masseters can really [00:17:00] slim out the face.
And y- when you do have older skin, you do have more laxity, right? So you just have less structure, less support. So yeah, I can see that, why that would lead to more of a lax appearance. Mm-hmm. Um, but for younger patients, I really don't see that. Okay.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah,
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: that's what I was thinking. Yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. I've been getting it in my masseters, and what- Mm-hmm
I will say is even if that was the case where I was getting jowls, I would take it over- ... having my TMJ any day of the week, so
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. So I think there's a lot of interest in that. I mean, I also get patients asking about headaches, right? Um, and not only does it improve your headaches, um, also helps to pr- you know, protect your teeth.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Um, makes you look better. Um, there's a lot of benefits to Botox. And you know, they've done research and have also s- you know, like, it helps with depression. It helps with your mood. Um- I feel
Courtney Carroll, LE: better when I have Botox.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: So I mean, I think there's a lot of benefits to it, and it is something that [00:18:00] I do discuss with my patients when they do bring it up
Courtney Carroll, LE: So I guess we could probably talk about what matters in a skincare routine, because I think that question gets asked a lot.
What should I be starting in my 20s? Mm-hmm. Um, what do I actually need? Like, what ingredients basically should I be using? And- Yeah ... my answer to those patients is usually gonna be two things. Obviously, sunscreen, and I'm always gonna tell people to start a retinol or retinoid. Um- Mm-hmm ... I just think even if you're starting with something gentle, it doesn't have to be a tretinoin .1%, but- Mm-hmm
even just starting with, like, a bakuchiol or something. Um, like, I love our Twilight Transformation Serum- Mm-hmm ... that we have in the office. That's such a great start for, like, the 20-year-old patients who- Mm-hmm ... might not have, like, acne. Obviously, we're using our retinoids for acne treatment a lot of times, but even those patients that might not have the, the acne, but maybe they're looking just to improve on texture, just kind of mainstay that, um, collagen production, I think it's such a great ingredient to, to start in your 20s.
Yeah,
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: I think the 20s is really when you can start using those actives- Mm-hmm ... consistently to [00:19:00] help with prevention. So I love the retinoids. I like myself a vitamin C serum. Mm-hmm. Um, it can only brighten your skin, help with collagen production. So those are things that are key, um, I think, to start in this decade.
Um, obviously we have the other fundamentals, like a good cleanser and moisturizer. That's always a must too. Um, but I do think the actives, um, are important, uh, to start.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah, I agree.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah, and being mindful. I mean, like I said, what... I think the 20s, as we mentioned, is such a transformative... Where you start in the beginning of your 20s is not where you will necessarily end up at the end of your 20s.
And just knowing from experience, again, like, going from a more oily skin type where I was using, you know, very lightweight moisturizer to now I might switch up to something a little bit heavier, um, and just kind of being mindful of those changes that are going on. Mm-hmm. I think I hear a lot of patients tell me, like, "Well, I've used this, like, for so long.
I've always used this. I've used this- Mm-hmm ... since I was a teenager." Yeah. And I'm like, "You know, that's the problem." Your skin changes. Yeah. [00:20:00] And there we have it. Yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Your skin isn't static. It changes, it's dynamic. So you really do have to evolve as your body and your skin evolves. Mm-hmm. Um, but I think all of that is useless if you don't use your sunscreen, right?
So, um, you know, you could use all the fanciest products, all the actives in the world, but if you're not protecting yourself from UV light and the sun, um, you are not really making much headway.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Mm-hmm. So if you're not using sunscreen, I mean, this is really when you should start be- using a daily sunscreen.
Mm-hmm. Um, you're out in the world. Um, you want to protect yourself and age gracefully, and that is the number one tip we can give you.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah. I think there are lots of other things, too, aside from skincare that can help. Um, so, like, lifestyle factors. Um, sleep- Yeah ... is a big one, I think. You- The amount of sleep and the quality of your sleep that you're getting really shows on- Yeah
your skin. [00:21:00] Um, but also, like, stress, alcohol use- Mm-hmm ... um, substance uses- Mm-hmm ... tobacco, um, hydration, diet, exercise, anything, um, that you are, um Doing consistently can make a big difference, negative or positive.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Put down the vapes, you know? Oh,
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: yeah.
Courtney Carroll, LE: 20-year-olds and the vapes. It's, it's an epidemic.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Well, did you hear that they're deregulating, um, the vapes so now they can sell flavored vapes to kids under 18?
Heather Murray, PA-C: Oh my
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: gosh. Like-
Courtney Carroll, LE: No. I heard the opp- Mm ... I heard the op- well, I heard that they were getting rid of flavored vapes.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: That's what we thought, and then they just recently, like, deregulated that.
Heather Murray, PA-C: They're like, "Actually-" "... let's do the complete opposite."
Courtney Carroll, LE: Let's get more kids addicted. That's
Heather Murray, PA-C: crazy.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Big
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: tobacco. Well, yeah, I mean, I think smoking is definitely terrible for your skin.
A lot of alcohol use, terrible for your skin. Um, and then [00:22:00] also let's also remind ourselves, like, what we eat, um, really does reflect on our skin. If you're gonna eat crap, I mean, your skin is not going to take it very well. Mm-hmm. Um, especially, like, high sugary foods. Um, you know, all of us have been guilty of that.
Um, the stress eating. Um, you definitely can see more breakouts, more inflammation- Mm-hmm ... redness. So, um, you know, just remember you are what you eat, and your skin will reflect that.
Heather Murray, PA-C: I had a patient yesterday who, um, has been on Accutane for a while. He's getting close to his, the end of his treatment. And, um, w- in the very beginning, eh, before we start Accutane or any sort of medications, I always counsel about lifestyle and diet, and, um- Mm-hmm
you know, kind of going into different things that can cause acne and, and things that can help with acne from a diet perspective. But, um, this mom was asking, like, [00:23:00] you know, "Can diet influence?" As if I had never talked about it before. And you guys know me, like-
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah. Oh,
Heather Murray, PA-C: yeah ... I will always, if I get a chance,
Courtney Carroll, LE: just say- Heather got to a point where she was telling people to eat the, their chicken before their rice or-
like,
Heather Murray, PA-C: like, it was getting crazy. Okay. Oh, okay. I gotta hear this one. Because... well, I'll go into
Courtney Carroll, LE: it. Yeah,
Heather Murray, PA-C: that's
Courtney Carroll, LE: another
Heather Murray, PA-C: podcast. Um, but, um, you know, I think it was like, you know, I, I didn't say this, but I was thinking, like, I thought we talked about this. Like, so we went into like, I think, I think what mom was trying to a- ask is, like, for me to reiterate it about- Mm-hmm
like, ice cream- Uh-huh ... versus, like, the kid hearing it from his mom. Yeah. Like, the kid's not gonna listen to his mom, but he might listen to a healthcare provider. So we went over all of that stuff again and, like, tried to find out, like, come up with- Mm-hmm ... different, like, healthy snack ideas to help, like, um- You know, satisfy his sweet tooth- Mm-hmm
but in different ways.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I sub out ice cream for yogurt. That's like my- [00:24:00] Mm ... easy trick.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Mm.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I'm like, yeah.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah, so high glycemic index foods, processed foods- Yeah ... fried foods, um, dairy and red meat are all pro-inflammatory. So those are things- In your 20s. Mm-hmm.
Heather Murray, PA-C: So the reason why I said So white rice is a very high glycemic index food.
And so if you're eating a big bowl of rice by itself- Mm-hmm ... and then you eat stuff later, like it's gonna spike your blood sugar.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Heather Murray, PA-C: So if you have the protein with the carb-
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Mm-hmm ...
Heather Murray, PA-C: that's h- what helps stabilize. Yeah, that
Courtney Carroll, LE: makes
Heather Murray, PA-C: sense.
Courtney Carroll, LE: It makes sense. It works. Yeah. It makes sense. It's a extra 10-minute spiel, but it definitely makes- No,
Heather Murray, PA-C: it's
Courtney Carroll, LE: not.
Yeah. All right. Um, let's talk about some of the procedures that we commonly get asked about- Oh ... from our young chaps. Um, what do you guys feel like you hear from most?
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: I feel that I get a lot of requests for microneedling. Yeah,
Courtney Carroll, LE: 100%.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Um, I think that's such a- Yeah ... hot, um, treatment these days, and I love it.
It's, you know, [00:25:00] useful. It's safe and effective, and this is a good time in your life to s- start doing these minimally invasive procedures- Mm-hmm ... to get a good return. Um, you'll see some collagen induction with it. You'll notice improvement in pore appearance, fine lines, wrinkles. You just look great. It also helps with prior acne scars.
So I think that that's a great treatment.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I agree.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: It's a good starting, uh, point.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I see a lot of, uh, Dr. Zane already mentioned it, but like, um, baby Botox or like preventative tox- Mm-hmm ... to help kinda smooth out any sort of fine lines from forming.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. Um, chemical peels. Mm-hmm. I mean, I know Courtney loves those.
Um, you know, medical grade facials-
Heather Murray, PA-C: Mm-hmm ...
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: um, will keep your skin rejuvenated, exfoliated, and you get a nice glow from that. Um, laser treatments, um, you definitely can do laser treatments that are more specific to concerns such as vascular lasers for like redness, [00:26:00] pigment-specific lasers for any dyspigmentation or dark spots.
Um, and you can just do light resurfacing. Um-
Courtney Carroll, LE: I think the Tone and Clear is amazing for people in their 20s. It's so- What's Tone
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: and Clear, for audience?
Courtney Carroll, LE: Yeah, so Um, so Tone and Clear, and there is another name, um, called Laser Genesis, and basically these are similar treatments. You might have heard something called like a laser facial, and what they are utilizing are typically wavelengths, um, you know, 1064, maybe a 755, or, um, 532, and those are different wavelengths that are tackling different things.
So essentially what you're doing is you're building heat in the skin. Um, with that 1064, you're building collagen by using that heat to induce that, and then usually with either a 532 or a 755, you might be tackling some of the pigment or some of the reds in the skin. So it's a very minimally, um, painful procedure.
You're normally very comfortable. It's a warm sensation. At a certain point it gets a little too hot, and instantly that's when we're gonna k- You know, stop it, and then you leave that day, um, mild, [00:27:00] mild redness. But it's overall a great treatment to start building collagen. Mm-hmm. It's great to treat some of those, like, beginning reds and browns, and then you just have this nice, like, glow.
I love doing it, like, before an event or, um, you know, just if I'm feeling like my skin's a little dull. And it does help with, like, the active acne, too- Mm-hmm ... which I think is a nice touch, so.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. Um, I also think that the non-ablative fractional lasers are great. Um, it helps to stimulate collagen, but also help with skin tone as well.
So I'm a huge fan of the, um, Laser MD Ultra. I think it's a great treatment and safe for, um, almost any patient.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah, I think it's important that, um, again, it's a personalized treatment plan. Mm-hmm. A good dermatology provider will focus on your specific concerns and, um, what they're noticing, but also, um, your anatomy and, um, focusing on consistency and long-term skin health versus just trying to correct something- Mm
very quickly.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Mm. Yeah. [00:28:00] So this was a great discussion, um, about skin in our 20s and what we can do to help have the healthiest skin possible for the rest of our lives. So the 20s are a very dynamic decade. There are a lot of changes that happen. But partnering with, you know, your dermatology team is really helpful because we have, you know, a lot of recommendations that we can give to help, you know, tailor to your skin and help optimize the results that you're looking for.
Courtney Carroll, LE: I think, you know, my recommendation for 20-year-olds, um, separate of anything cosmetic, is always also gonna be to go ahead and start your skin checks because I think it's incredibly important to get a baseline- Mm-hmm ... and to monitor things that, you know, might be growing. I mean, unfortunately- Mm ... we have seen weird atypical moles and even melanomas in, uh, patients in their 20s, so I think it's a really important time to go ahead and start your skin checks.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Very good reminder.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Heather Murray, PA-C: Yeah. Yeah. Especially because a lot of us [00:29:00] had sun damage as teens. We don't think about the sunscreen, and it's starting to show.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Mm-hmm.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: And I know that you feel like you're still very young and things can't happen to you, but it's all about cumulative damage. So, like, what you do now in this phase of your life will have impacts on, you know, later decades in your life.
So set yourself up for success. Um, not only will you reduce your risk of developing skin cancer or other, you know, sun damage, um, but you'll also look better and age more gracefully.
Courtney Carroll, LE: Save money.
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: Yeah. You won't need a facelift- Thanks
Courtney Carroll, LE: a lot ... when you're
Dr. Zain Husain, MD: 50 . Yeah. So, um, you know, if you guys have any questions, feel free to ask.
Um, please follow, like, and subscribe, but until next time, Skin Side- Out ... out. [00:30:00]