DIY Skin Treatments: Our Medical Aestheticians React

On the latest episode of The Doc Dudes, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Garrett Harper and Dr. Robert Graper sat down with our medical aestheticians — Melissa Myers, Angie Adamson, and Candace Werkman Eiden — to discuss the rise of DIY skincare. From kitchen-cabinet “hacks” to social media fads, the team breaks down what can actually harm your skin — and what to do instead.

What Makes A Medical Aesthetician Different

A medical aesthetician is formally trained, experienced, and focused on long-term skin health, rather than quick, feel-good “fixes”. At Graper Harper Cosmetic Surgery, our aestheticians work under the same roof as the surgeons, so patients get the full spectrum of care: medical-grade skincare, lasers, peels, BBL/HALO, microneedling (including RF), and, when appropriate, a seamless hand-off to minimally invasive or surgical options.

Treatments The Pros Actually Love

Angie’s desert-island pick: microneedling, especially RF microneedling, for collagen stimulation, improved tone and texture, and a tighter look over a series of sessions. Candace is a big fan of HALO to tackle sun damage, brown spots, and texture with about a week of downtime. Melissa leans on BBL as a patient-friendly workhorse for redness, vessels, and pigment — great as a step up from peels or as maintenance between bigger treatments.

Myths Our Team Wants You To Skip

• “Sunscreen is only for sunny days.” If there’s enough light to see, there’s enough to damage. Use broad-spectrum daily and reapply per the label—shade and clouds don’t cancel UV.
• “More products = better skin.” Over-layering clogs pores and irritates. Follow directions; pea-size amounts of actives are typically enough.
• “You can shrink pores.” You can make them look smaller with exfoliation, retinoids, and niacinamide, but pore size is largely genetic.
• “Retinol thins skin.” The opposite. Used correctly, it supports collagen and improves texture with far better tolerability than prescription retinoic acid for many patients.
• “Oily skin doesn’t need moisturizer.” The right, lightweight or oil-free moisturizer can prevent rebound oiliness and support barrier health.
• “Natural is always better.” Lemon juice, coconut oil, and undiluted essential oils can burn or inflame skin. Evidence-based products are formulated for efficacy and safety.

DIY “Hacks” To Never Try

• Lemon juice or baking soda on the face (pH havoc, irritation, burns)
• Toothpaste on pimples or tea-tree-heavy pimple patches (chemical burns, more inflammation)
• Rubbing alcohol as toner (barrier damage)
• Home microneedling/dermaplaning kits (infection, scarring, poor sterilization)
• Homemade sunscreen (unreliable protection)
• Mixing strong actives blindly (many pro formulas already combine actives—DIY cocktails can inactivate or irritate)

The Better Plan

Think of peels as “workouts” for your skin, then layer targeted device treatments and a consistent, customized home routine. Check in seasonally since your needs shift with fluctuations in weather, hormones, and lifestyle. When your goals extend beyond what skincare can achieve, our team can coordinate minimally invasive or surgical options for the most predictable outcome.

Ready to trade risky hacks for results you’ll actually love? Schedule a consultation with our medical aestheticians at Graper Harper Cosmetic Surgery in Charlotte. Contact us at (704) 375-7111.