Episode 6: Lasers, Scalp Voodoo & 'Hot Girl' Tips

Ali and Reem are back from vacation and diving headfirst into a summer-themed episode of Derm Next Door. From debunking scalp DIY disasters to decoding laser lingo and sharing the not-so-glamorous realities of NYC in July, this episode blends skin science with real-life derm takes.

They break down the evidence behind polypodium leucotomos supplements, explain why your apple cider vinegar hair rinse probably isn’t doing much (except stinking), and walk through the lasers you’ve seen on TikTok but never truly understood. Also: hypochlorous acid spray—is it just diluted bleach or a post-Pilates lifesaver? And finally, in their signature Ask the Derms segment, they reveal what procedures they actually do, what they’re planning next, and how they stay cool in the city while still looking hot.

00:02 – What’s Hot Polypodium leucotomos 101 — the supplement for sun protection, melasma, and a little extra antioxidant armor. Shout-out to Inner Glow Gummies and our dearly missed Heliocare samples.

06:48 – Bothered: Scalp DIY Disasters From apple cider vinegar to mayonnaise, we unpack the wild kitchen treatments patients bring into the clinic — and why derms are collectively saying: please stop.

14:52 – Still Bothered: Rosemary Oil & Other Scalp Trends. Does rosemary oil actually grow hair? And what about scalp massage, amla oil, and Giselle’s no-brush routine?

19:15 – Derm in the Wild: Tina Fey Said Lasers. We break down the laser lexicon (PDL, Fraxel, IPL/BBL, Halo) and throw in some hot takes on medspas.

25:43 – Science or Scam: Hypochlorous Acid Spray. Our verdict? It’s a win. We explain what it is (dilute bleach, kind of), what it’s good for, and when to definitely not DIY it.

29:32 – Ask the Derms: Summer Survival + Maintenance Routines. Cooling hacks (parasol chic, subway hell), our honest maintenance treatments (Botox, PRP, cycling actives), and why we’re Fraxel-forward this winter.

33:15 – NYC Moments. Our favorite recent recs: Russ & Daughters, Hen House, Cafe Colmado, The Fulton at sunset, Serotonin smoothies, La Crueset cookware, soft girl bookshops, and Reem's love of fusion restaurants and container store (#TaurusCore)

36:35 – Coming Soon + Sign Off. We’re back on a more regular schedule (finally) until later in August when Reem’s off to Qatar to teach derm, and Ali’s off to Ibiza to teach… beach.