Dr. Aleksandra Brown, DO, FAOCD, FAAD

Dr. Aleksandra Brown, DO, FAOCD, FAAD Aleksandra Brown was born in Derventa, Bosnia and Herzegovina and came to the United States as an exchange student in 1999. She earned her D.O.

Board Certified Dermatologist
🔥Skincare tips from your perimenopausal derm 💁‍♀️
❌ Nothing on this page is considered medical advice

www.draleksandrabrown.com She decided to pursue a career in medicine after working in a hospital emergency room as an undergraduate. from Des Moines University in 2009, where she was awarded the academic and service excellence award for outstanding academic and int

erpersonal leadership. She lives in Blacksburg with her family, and is fluent in Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian in addition to English. Dr. Brown is board certified by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. She is a member of several medical groups, including the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Association, and the Virginia Medical Society. She joined River Ridge Dermatology in 2013.

05/13/2026

In your 30s and 40s, skin often becomes drier, more sensitive, and less predictable.

This is usually linked to a weakening skin barrier, where harsh cleansing and random layering can suddenly start causing irritation. Even strong ingredients like vitamin C and retinol only work well when used in the right order.

The focus now is simple structure: cleanse based on skin type, layer antioxidants properly, and protect the barrier daily.

Here’s an easy AM and PM routine to guide you. 👇

✨Follow for more skincare routines

05/12/2026

You’ve probably heard of freezing warts… but using a pinto bean overnight sounds completely ridiculous until you understand the science behind it.

The goal was not the bean itself, it was the steady pressure created against the wart while it was taped down overnight. That pressure may temporarily cut off blood flow to the wart tissue, causing it to slowly break down and peel away over time.

This only appeared to work on smaller finger warts where pressure could be maintained consistently, and some cases needed repeated treatments. Even though this is not a standard wart therapy, it may still be gentler than picking, clipping, or aggressively treating warts at home.

Have you ever tried a weird wart remedy that actually worked? Let me know in the comment⬇️

Some skin cancers are easy to miss which is why they’re often ignored for months. They don’t always look alarming at fir...
05/11/2026

Some skin cancers are easy to miss which is why they’re often ignored for months. They don’t always look alarming at first, and many patients assume they’re harmless skin irritation or acne. Small changes over time are often the only clue.

🔸 Basal Cell Carcinoma
May look like a small pink bump, a shiny spot, or a sore that repeatedly scabs over. Common on the face, especially around the nose.

🔸 Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Often appears as a rough, crusty patch or a tender spot that bleeds easily. Many people mistake these for irritation, bug bites, or dry skin.

🔸 Melanoma
Not always dark or raised. Some melanomas are pink, flat, or slowly changing over time. Watch for spots that look different from the rest, especially on the legs in women and the back or torso in men.

If a spot keeps changing, bleeding, or not healing, it’s worth getting checked.

Comment “SKIN” and I’ll send you the full YouTube video explaining how to spot these early.


# SquamousCellCarcinoma

05/10/2026

Same but different….

Which one do you use and what’s your favorite way to use it? Lmk ⬇️

05/09/2026

Sunscreen is often thought of as something you only need at the beach or on sunny days. But UV exposure is constant, and it builds quietly through daily life more than most people expect.

A common misconception is that effective sunscreen has to feel greasy or be extremely high SPF, when a well-formulated SPF 30 is already suitable for daily wear.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s repetition, finding a texture you don’t mind putting on every morning. Once you understand the slow buildup of sun exposure, daily SPF starts to feel like a non-negotiable step.

Want help finding an SPF you’ll actually enjoy wearing? Comment SPF and I'll send you a link with some of my favorites.

05/08/2026

If tretinoin feels too strong for your skin, there’s a simple fix dermatologists often recommend.

The sandwich method helps reduce irritation by buffering your skin with moisturizer before and after applying a pea-sized amount of tretinoin. This technique can make the transition much more tolerable while still allowing your skin to benefit from retinoid use over time.

Start slow, 2 to 3 nights per week and always avoid the eye area and other sensitive spots as your skin builds tolerance.

Struggling with tretinoin or planning to start soon? Drop your questions below ⬇️

05/07/2026

If your body lotion burns, tingles, or suddenly feels “too strong,” the percentage of exfoliating acids may be the reason. Amlactin Daily and Intensive Healing both use lactic acid to exfoliate dry skin, but they’re made for different levels of dryness and rough texture. A lot of people assume the stronger option is automatically better, but that’s not always true for sensitive or easily irritated skin.

➡️ Daily – gentler exfoliation for regular dry skin, dullness, and smoother texture over time

➡️ Intensive Healing – stronger formula for rough, cracked, flaky, or stubborn areas needing deeper exfoliation. It may work faster, but it can also cause more tingling or irritation on sensitive or over-exfoliated skin.

The goal isn’t to use the strongest lotion possible, it’s to find the formula your skin barrier can actually tolerate consistently.

05/06/2026

Many people look for ways to “fix” tretinoin irritation quickly, but the truth is your skin doesn’t adjust overnight. It needs time to build tolerance while maintaining a healthy barrier.

Redness, dryness, and peeling often happen when the skin is overwhelmed by too much too soon or applied in a way that increases irritation.

Using it gradually, applying the right amount, and protecting the skin barrier can make a major difference in how well it’s tolerated.

Pairing it with gentle hydration and avoiding harsh exfoliants at the same time helps reduce unnecessary inflammation.

That’s why consistency and technique matter far more than pushing for fast results.

Want to know if your current tretinoin routine is actually helping or hurting your skin? Drop a comment below ⬇️

05/05/2026

Tretinoin, retinal, and retinol might sound interchangeable, but they’re actually very different in strength and performance. A lot of people jump into the strongest option thinking it will give the best results but that’s not always the case. Understanding how each one works can save your skin from unnecessary irritation.

➡️ Retinol – slowest but gentlest; best for beginners and sensitive skin
➡️ Retinal – faster results with moderate strength; a solid step-up option
➡️ Tretinoin – fastest and most potent; ideal if your skin can tolerate it

They all convert to the same active form but at different speeds.

Comment “LINK” below and I’ll send the full YouTube breakdown plus my product recommendations for each type.

05/03/2026

Fix your dry, cracked hands with this simple hack. Do it year round if you have dry skin, eczema or chronically cracked skin on your hands.

Comment HANDS and I’ll send you some of my favorite products for hand care 🙌

Not all retinol is created equal and that’s why some people see results while others just get irritation.Some formulas r...
05/02/2026

Not all retinol is created equal and that’s why some people see results while others just get irritation.

Some formulas release slowly and feel gentle on the skin, while others work faster and can be more intense. The difference comes down to the type of retinoid and how directly it acts in the skin.

There’s a progression: beginner-friendly options, stronger retinal formulas, then prescription tretinoin at the top. Skipping steps doesn’t speed things up, it usually leads to redness, peeling, and setbacks.

If your skin isn’t improving, it might not be your routine, it might be the strength you’re using.

Want to know which retinol strength you should actually be using?

💬 Comment “LINK” and I’ll share derm-approved retinol options.

skinbarrier

Address

3706 S Main Street
Blacksburg, VA
24060

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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+15409513376

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