Beware of the Latest Skin Care Trends
If you spend any time on social media, you’ve probably seen a new skin care “miracle” every week. A serum that promises to erase wrinkles overnight. A supplement that claims to cure acne from the inside out. A device that went viral because an influencer swore by it.
It’s natural to wonder whether you should be trying these things too. And sometimes, when you ask Dr. Dupati about the latest trend, his answer might surprise you: “Let’s wait and see.”
We want to explain why.
Your safety comes first
When a new treatment appears, the most important questions aren’t just “Does it work?” but also “Is it safe?” and “Is it safe for you?” A treatment can look impressive in a before and after photo and still carry risks that don’t show up for months or even years.
Dr. Dupati believes you deserve to know both sides before putting something on your skin or into your body. That means waiting until there is real evidence, not just excitement.
What “real evidence” means
In medicine, the strongest evidence comes from something called a randomized controlled trial. In these studies, people are randomly placed into groups. One group receives the treatment, and another group receives either a placebo or the current standard treatment. Neither the patients nor the researchers get to choose who ends up where, which helps remove bias.
This matters because our minds are powerful. When we expect something to work, we often feel like it does. Skin also changes on its own with the seasons, with stress, and with time. A well designed trial helps separate what the treatment actually does from what would have happened anyway.
Good trials also track side effects carefully, follow patients over time, and are reviewed by other experts before they’re published. A single study is a start. Several studies that point in the same direction are what give Dr. Dupati confidence.
Why trends move faster than science
A product can go viral in a day. A quality clinical trial can take years. That gap is where problems happen. Over the years, dermatologists have seen popular treatments turn out to cause irritation, allergic reactions, scarring, or simply to do nothing at all while patients spent money and time on them.
Waiting doesn’t mean Dr. Dupati is closed minded. He reads new research regularly and is genuinely excited when a treatment proves itself. Many of the therapies we offer today were once “new.” The difference is that they earned their place through careful study.
A medical doctor, trained in evidence
Patients sometimes ask whether Dr. Dupati practices natural, holistic, or alternative medicine. We want to be clear and honest about this. Dr. Dupati is not a naturopathic doctor or a holistic practitioner. He is a medical doctor, board certified in dermatology and in Mohs surgery.
His training included medical school, a residency focused entirely on the skin, hair, and nails, and years of practice grounded in the scientific method. That training shapes how he thinks about every recommendation he makes: What does the research show? How strong is that research? What are the risks? And does this make sense for this particular patient?
This doesn’t mean he dismisses things like good nutrition, sleep, stress management, or gentle skin care. These are real parts of healthy skin, and he’s happy to talk about them. It simply means that when he recommends a treatment, it’s because the evidence supports it, not because it’s popular, labeled “natural,” or trending online. Natural and safe are not always the same thing. Poison ivy is natural, after all.
What this means for you
When you visit Apollo Dermatology, you can expect honest answers. If you bring in something you saw online, Dr. Dupati will never make you feel silly for asking. He’ll tell you what is known, what isn’t known yet, and whether there’s a proven option that could help you reach the same goal.
Sometimes the answer will be “Yes, this has good evidence behind it.” Sometimes it will be “Not yet, but let’s keep an eye on it.” And sometimes it will be “I’d steer clear of that one, and here’s why.”
In every case, the goal is the same: to give you care you can trust.
Our promise
Your skin is with you for life. You deserve a dermatologist who takes that seriously, who is curious about new ideas but careful about adopting them, and who puts your long term health ahead of what’s fashionable this month.
If you have questions about a product or treatment you’ve been hearing about, bring it to your next visit. We’re always glad to talk it through with you..
Call us at 248-436-4888 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Arjun Dupati.
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π Apollo Dermatology | Rochester HIlls, Michigan
By Dr. Arjun Dupati, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon
