Usama Syed, MD (@usamasyedMD) / X

Usama Syed, MD

1,596 posts

Usama Syed, MD

@usamasyedMD

Co-Founder & CEO @ FutureClinic (YC F24)

Brooklyn, NY

Joined May 2017

Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
💉 As a dermatologist, I think 95% of the truly scientific skincare tips that you should know can fit into one Tweet thread. All Instagram/YouTube/TikTok skincare education videos just repackage a few core principles with different dances/ brand names. Let me prove it... 🧵 1/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jun 1, 2023
Retinoids are the ONLY 'miracle' skincare ingredient. They treat acne, pigmentation, scarring, fine lines/ wrinkles, and even have anti-cancer effect. But most people use them wrong, end up with irritated skin, and stop. Here's the RIGHT way to use them in your routine... 👇 1/
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Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 16, 2025
Replying to @paulg
Dermatologist here! This is classic for a severe form of rosacea known as “rhinophymatous” rosacea. It’s caused by long-term inflammation of the nose leading to chronic fibrosis. If you have rosacea, DON’T let it get to this stage! Oral doxycycline or isotretinoin prevents this.
479K
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
🔤 Rule 1: Moisturize. At its core, the skin is a barrier that keeps the outside world out, and the inside world of your body in. If that barrier gets dry/cracked, local cells are unhappy and get inflamed = itchy/red. So, moisturize to keep barrier in tact. Pick products... 2/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
🙏🏼 AND THAT'S IT. Now you can unsubscribe from every skincare TikTok/YouTube channel. Bit of a long one, but how d'you think I did? If you enjoyed/think others would benefit from this advice, tag your friends or share the first tweet in this thread to help liberate others!
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
🧴Rule 3: Retinoids. The closest thing to a 'magic' ingredient in skincare. Anti-aging, helps dark spots, minimizes acne, anti-cancer, and subtle scarring improvement. OTC 'retinols' are good, prescription retinoids are stronger (but then also more drying). Slow to work... 7/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
with ingredients that are sufficiently hydrating + also form effective barriers e.g. petrolatum, mineral oil, hyaluronic acid, ceramides. A cream you'll use consistently is ALWAYS better than one used once, so try a few brands yourself ➡️ @EucerinUS, @cerave, @LaRochePosayUSA. 3/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
Dark spot treatment? ➡ hydroquinone, lactic acid, azelaic acid, vit C, retinoid. Every beauty company has a product with each of these ingredients. The 'right one' needs trial/error for your own skin, but never spend more than $30-40 on any skincare item. It's a con. 10/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
📈 Rule 8: Compounding skin gains. If you want to have good skin later in life, find a moisturizer, hydrating cleanser, sunscreen and retinoid you like in your 20s/30s, use consistently, and that's it. When you hit 30+, consider adding small amounts of botox for deep lines. 14/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Aug 2, 2023
Replying to @Patticus
Body odor is very much real. It's caused by bacteria breaking down the components of your sweat into smelly byproducts. I'm glad people were informed that they didn't have to accept that. Next thread: "Washing your hands with soap is completely made up. Marketers invented it..."
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Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
☀️ Rule 2: Sunscreen. The Sun shoots radiation at our skin each day, causing DNA mutations in cells + breaking down collagen in deeper layers. When this happens enough, you can get skin cancers (un-repaired DNA mutations that then snowball), and also wrinkles/ dark spots. 4/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
💪🏻 Rule 4: 'Active ingredients'. Here's a quick guide to common actives and what they're useful for. Salicyclic acid: gentle exfoliate, pore unblock. Benzoyl peroxide: anti-inflam, kills acne bacteria. Azelaic acid: anti-inflam, helps rosacea/acne/ dark spots. 9/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Jan 22, 2022
Replying to @usamasyedMD
Sunscreen acts as barrier to capture this radiation and prevent it from mutating your skin cells = less skin cancer, less wrinkles, less dark spots. Which sunscreen? Gold standard = zinc/titanium oxide containing (physical blockers), SPF 50+, applied twice daily, BUT... 5/
Usama Syed, MD
@usamasyedMD
Oct 2, 2024
Replying to @PicturesFoIder
Disagree (dermatologist here). You can safely do this every couple of weeks, and just apply a light moisturizer afterwards to reinforce the barrier and reduce stimulus for overproduction of oil.
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