Tea with MD

Hi everyone, my name is Dr. Joyce Park and I am a dermatologist, content creator, and founder of Skin Refinery, a virtual dermatology clinic.

Find me on YouTube, Tiktok, Pinterest, and Instagram I'm born and raised in sunny California where I did my undergrad and medical school training at Stanford. In the middle of med school I took a leap of faith and spent one year exploring journalism, working at NBC News in NYC to create medical pieces for Nightly News and The Today Show. My adventure in social media started back then as a blog, and through the years, my interest in content creation grew to include platforms such as Instagram TikTok and YouTube. Think of me as your friendly neighborhood doc that you can ask anything to, even questions you don't want to ask your real life physician. Hope you find this helpful!

04/06/2026

Thank you, and , for the most insane PR box I’ve ever received… I actually had to pause and take it all in.

Felt like a kid on Christmas morning, unboxing these Chanel skincare and makeup staples.

As a dermatologist, I love when luxury meets formulation. These feel elegant, thoughtful, and actually beautiful on the skin… which makes the whole experience even better.

04/03/2026

15 years ago, I started blogging as a requirement for my journalism fellowship during a gap year in medical school. It was just me, sharing bits of my life on the internet with zero expectations. I didn’t know what kind of doctor I wanted to be, I had never lived outside of the Bay Area, and I hadn’t even met my husband yet. It feels like a lifetime ago because it really was! And somehow…that blog turned into, well, this! A career, a community, friendships around the world, and opportunities I could have never imagined.
The special thing about this community is that we’ve grown up together. You and me. Through medical school, residency, heartbreak, joy, career pivots, battling imposter syndrome, building a family and all the ups and downs that came with IVF, and creating a whole new path that didn’t even exist when I started. You’ve been there for all of it.
To every single one of you who has followed along, supported me, believed in me, and grown with me… thank you. Truly. I don’t take this for granted for a second. I’m actually getting emotional typing this out 🥹
This community means everything to me, and I want to give back in a small way 💛 So I’ve curated a selection of products and tools that I think you will enjoy as a small token of my appreciation.

✨ GIVEAWAY ✨ To enter:
1️⃣Follow
2️⃣Comment “NEWS” below to join my newsletter so I can send you all my Derm-approved hair skin and nail tips

Details: – Open to U.S. residents only – Must be 18+ to enter – Giveaway runs from now until 4/9 at 11:59 PM PST – One winner for the giveaway will be announced on 4/10 and contacted via DM – This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram or Meta, or any of the brands whose products are included within this giveaway

Thank you for being here and for being my village. Something big is coming this month and I can’t wait to share it with you🫰

04/02/2026

Propaganda I’m falling for as a derm 👀⁠
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👉 Retinoids do NOT thin your skin⁠
They actually build collagen and thicken the deeper layer of your skin over time. The “thinning” people notice early on is just temporary irritation or peeling, not true skin thinning.⁠
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👉 Tinted SPF daily if you have dark spots⁠
Tinted sunscreen contains iron oxides that protect against visible light, which can worsen hyperpigmentation and melasma. This is one of the easiest ways to prevent dark spots from getting worse.⁠
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👉 5% minoxidil is safe for women⁠
This is a well-studied treatment for hair thinning and is completely safe for women to use. Consistency matters, and some initial shedding can happen before regrowth. Remember, minoxidil is also toxic to pets. ⁠
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👉 Stinging does NOT mean it’s working⁠
If your skincare burns, that is a sign of barrier damage, not effectiveness. Good skincare should be gentle and not cause discomfort.⁠
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👉 Period breakouts are almost always hormonal⁠
These breakouts are driven by hormonal shifts, not because your routine suddenly stopped working. Focus on targeted treatments instead of changing everything.

03/30/2026

AAD 2026, that’s a wrap ✨

Nothing better than reconnecting with my derm besties and brand partners from all over the world, learning, laughing, and leveling up together. Feeling inspired (and a little sleep-deprived 😅), but so grateful for this community.

I can’t wait to share more of the highlights with you all!

Ps: even being more on the extroverted side, my social battery is at 🪫 so need time to recover! Anyone else feel this way after AAD?!

03/27/2026

Can you get HPV warts from the gym? 👀⁠
⁠
I know that sounds scary, but here’s the tea.⁠
⁠
HPV isn’t just one virus. Some strains spread through sexual contact, but others cause common skin warts that can spread through skin-to-skin contact or small breaks in the skin.⁠
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So yes, in places like gyms or locker rooms, it can happen.⁠
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But don’t panic. These are usually very treatable with things like freezing or topical treatments.⁠
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Also… not every bump is an HPV wart. I see this misdiagnosed all the time.⁠
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If something is growing or not going away, get it checked so you’re treating the right thing.⁠
⁠
VC:

03/26/2026

We need to talk about these “7 day acne transformations.”

Because no acne treatment works overnight

Even the most effective, evidence-based options take time. Weeks to start improving, and months for full results

So when you see a dramatic before and after in a few days, it’s not the full picture

Lighting, angles, and how the “before” is shown can change everything

Real acne treatment is consistency, not quick fixes

VC:

03/25/2026

I had the most incredible experience at the Chanel Maison de Beauté in Paris.

There’s a hidden treatment space inside the Chanel Passy boutique, where I experienced the Sublimage facial.

It was exactly what I needed after a stressful few weeks.

Every detail felt so intentional. From the waiting room to the camellia details, it really felt like stepping into the Chanel world.

The treatment itself was equal parts results and relaxation. A gentle cleanse, layered hydration, and the most incredible facial massage that completely released tension in my face, neck, and shoulders.

I actually fell asleep, which says everything.

After, I went downstairs to the makeup studio for a skin analysis and shade match, which made the whole experience feel even more personalized.

Thank you .beauty for the most incredible experience.

03/24/2026

K-Beauty I’ll repurchase until I’m 90 👵🏼⁠
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👉🏻 .official Deep conditioning hair mask. Deep Damage Treatment⁠
Smooths, softens, and improves manageability. Helps repair the look of damage without weighing hair down.⁠
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👉🏻 Lightweight sunscreen you’ll actually wear daily. Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum⁠
Hydrating, elegant, and layers beautifully. Broad-spectrum SPF that feels like skincare, not sunscreen.⁠
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👉🏻 Tone-up SPF for instant glow. Dark Spot Toning Sunscreen⁠
Gives a subtle tone-evening effect while protecting against UV damage. More cosmetic than treatment, but great for that no-makeup look.⁠
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👉🏻 Vitamin C that doesn’t irritate. Green Tangerine Vita C Serum⁠
Helps brighten and improve the look of dark spots over time without that sticky residue or sting.⁠
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👉🏻 .g_official Barrier-saving moisturizer. R.E.D Blemish Clear Soothing Cream⁠
Calms redness, supports the skin barrier, and stays lightweight. Perfect for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

03/20/2026

Hair shedding?
👉🏻 Ketoconazole shampoo (like Nizoral) can help reduce yeast and scalp inflammation, which may contribute to shedding. I like using it a few times a week and letting it sit for a few minutes before rinsing.

👉🏻 Minoxidil 5% is one of the most evidence-based treatments for hair regrowth. The 5% strength tends to work better than 2%, and it’s safe for all genders. ⚠️ Avoid minoxidil during pregnancy and keep it away from pets.

👉🏻 Scalp massagers can help evenly distribute minoxidil and boost circulation to the scalp.

👉🏻 Microneedling / dermarolling may enhance product absorption and stimulate follicles. Start slowly (about once weekly with a 0.25–0.5 mm roller) and avoid using it the same night as minoxidil.

👉🏻 Red light therapy may help support hair follicles and improve shedding over time. Think of it as long-term follicle support, not instant regrowth.
👉🏻 Consistency matters. Hair growth cycles are slow, so results usually take 3–6 months of regular use.

03/19/2026

Should you be spraying hypochlorous acid on your pillow for acne?

Don't get me wrong, I love my hypochlorous acid spray. It is a gentle antimicrobial that can help calm inflammation and reduce microbes, which is why we sometimes use it for irritated or acne-prone skin.

Could it help keep a pillow a little cleaner between washes? Possibly. But this exact acne hack has not been studied.

I still recommend washing pillowcases regularly, but I do not necessarily hate the idea.

Video credit:
PMID: 32653307, 38399675

03/18/2026

2026 is your glow-up year.

Real glow is not just skin. It is stronger hair, a healthier scalp, and nails that do not keep breaking. And none of that comes from trends. It comes from consistent care and ingredients that actually have data behind them.

Think barrier repair, daily SPF, scalp health, and targeted actives used with intention.

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Seattle, WA

Website

http://www.teawithMD.com/

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