To anyone who loves skin care, being a dermatologist might seem a bit like being the proverbial kid in a candy store. You have access to all of the newest and best treatments on the market to erase every little wrinkle and dark spot, giving you the clear and radiant complexion of your dreams. Outside of celebrities, dermatologists tend to have some of the best skin out there, so it stands to reason they’d have a laundry list of in-office procedures they do for routine maintenance.
But dermatologists tend to be pretty selective about what they try on themselves. As Melissa K. Levin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, explains it, “I don’t do all the treatments [on myself] that I offer my patients, otherwise I’d be so busy doing treatments that I’d never be able to see patients.”
That doesn’t mean they aren’t well-versed in the machines, lasers, peels, and injectables they offer. Many “dermatologists do try each and every treatment that they offer to their patients, whether it’s on themselves, staff members, family, or friends,” says Shereene Idriss, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “In order to give the best care possible, we need to be able to inform patients on what to expect with a treatment.”
During that testing, doctors will sometimes come across a treatment that has results that pique their interest enough to incorporate it into their own regimens. We asked top board-certified dermatologists around the country to tell us which in-office treatments—peels, injectables, resurfacing lasers, and more—they use on the regular to keep their own skin fresh, firm, and glowing.
Laurel Naversen Geraghty, MD, 49, Medford, Oregon
“I’m really careful with sun protection and good skin care, so I don’t feel a crushing need to toss myself under a laser beam every week, chasing some holy grail with no real goal or endpoint. To me, skin treatments are maintenance through time to keep things tuned up—just like with a car. It’s calculated maintenance to keep things humming.
Botox
“My very favorite treatment that I do consistently is ’tox to my masseter [chewing] muscles. I’m a grinder and a clencher and I hold my stress in my jawline—I have broken multiple night guards. I inject Botox to my masseter muscles and I get incredible relief of jaw tension and pain for six months at a time. I haven’t chomped through my night guard since I started doing this a few years ago. Some people also undergo ’tox to the masseter for the face-slimming effect, which is entirely real. I keep [going back to] this treatment because it reduces stress, releases tension, helps my teeth, and makes me feel so much better.”
Lumenis M22 Universal IPL with ResurFX Laser
“I don’t have a lot of time, so I commit to having one or two laser treatments a year—I have one of my colleagues do it for me. When you walk past rooms full of lasers a hundred times a day, that’s not a lot. I believe that we can change the trajectory of how our skin ages by relying on periodic energy-based treatments that stimulate collagen, even skin tone, reduce inflammation, and keep our skin looking healthy. I am a huge fan of IPL with photofractional resurfacing—I use Lumenis M22 Universal IPL and ResurFX Fractional Laser [right afterwards]. This combo treatment uses a light device to even tone, followed by a non-ablative laser (meaning, no epidermis is removed; the skin stays intact throughout). It’s not invasive, the downtime is easy to hide with tinted moisturizer, and it does so much to keep my skin tone even and keep the collagen pumping.”
Vitality Institute VI Peel
“Before a reunion or an event, I always have our advanced aesthetician, Lynn, give me a VI Peel over my face, neck, chest, and especially around my eyes. She’ll whip up the peel like a little cocktail made specially for my skin, blending ingredients for dyspigmentation, fine lines, and overall radiance. That gets my skin glowing.” [Editor’s note: VI Peels are customizable mixes of trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, tretinoin, and vitamin C.]
