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!

12/15/2025

1 derm, 10 k-beauty haircare obsessions I brought home from Seoul 🇰🇷✨
🖊️ Taekuk Pharm Minoxidil 5% Gel Roller makes scalp treatment precise, mess-free, and easy to stay consistent with.
🤍 Dr. MORI N Functional Hair Tonic delivers peptides and hydration with a built-in silicone massage head for daily scalp care.
❄️ PDRN Hairline Booster Shot uses a cooling metal tip for targeted hairline support when roots feel stressed.
🔥 .official Deep Damage Treatment EX smooths heat-styled, overworked hair with ceramides and proteins.
🪮 Hair Growth Scalp Serum hydrates roots with a refillable design and built-in massager for even absorption.
🌿 .kr_official Root:Gen Shampoo cleanses with ginseng and herbs without leaving the scalp stripped.
🧴 Hair Loss Care Shampoo & Treatment help balance the scalp with salicylic acid, panthenol, and niacinamide.
⚡️ .global Grow:Turn Ampoule energizes the scalp with caffeine and houttuynia cordata extract.
🌱 Turmeric Anti-Hair Loss Ampoule helps calm irritated, reactive scalps and maintain balance.
🧠 .h_official Microbiome Scalp Shampoo supports sensitive scalps with gentle, microbiome-friendly cleansing.

12/12/2025

Holiday shopping stress? I’ve got you covered.
No matter who you’re shopping for, the skincare devices, K-beauty favorites, or a luxe splurge, this is my dermatologist-approved gift guide to make things easy.
beauty  .global    

12/11/2025

If you’re on Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound and noticing more shedding, here’s the tea ☕️⁠
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I did a video a few months ago explaining how GLP-1 meds can trigger temporary shedding, also called telogen effluvium, from rapid weight loss. However a new Medscape article by Sara Freeman shows there is more to the story. GLP-1 users were also more likely to unmask androgenetic alopecia, or male and female pattern hair loss, if they were already genetically prone.⁠
⁠
Here is the difference:⁠
Temporary shedding (telogen effluvium): this usually slows down once your weight and nutrition stabilize. Nothing permanent, just your body resetting.⁠
Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia): this is genetic and can be unmasked by rapid shedding. Stabilizing weight will not reverse it, but treatments like minoxidil and other standard hair loss therapies can help.⁠
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Hair loss on GLP-1s is real but manageable once you know which type you are dealing with.⁠

12/10/2025

If you’ve been told these hair habits are “healthy”… I’m here to spill the tea. ☕️💁🏻‍♀️ They’re actually working against your hair goals.

1️⃣ Air-drying every day isn’t always gentler. When hair stays wet for too long, it stays swollen and fragile, which leads to frizz and breakage. A low-heat blow dry with heat protectant is often safer.

2️⃣ Avoiding shampoo to “save your natural oils” isn’t it. Your scalp is skin, and excess oil, sweat, and product buildup can irritate follicles and increase shedding. Regular cleansing supports healthier hair over time.

3️⃣ Sleeping with wet hair feels harmless, but trapped moisture overnight can cause breakage, frizz, and scalp irritation. Low, controlled heat is usually healthier than going to bed damp.

4️⃣ Brushing wet hair from the top down? Breakage city. Hair is most fragile when wet. Detangle gently from the bottom up, and do the heavy brushing once hair is dry.

5️⃣ Only using hydrating products seems nurturing, but without clarifying and scalp care, buildup forms fast. That buildup blocks active ingredients from working and can irritate the scalp.

Your hair deserves science-backed habits, not trends. What should I debunk next? 👇

12/09/2025

This article from really made me pause yesterday and think about my own journey in medicine and what it means to build a career as a female physician today. I’ve been in this field for over a decade, and while I love being a doctor the way I practice, the reality is that the traditional medical system wasn’t designed with women — especially moms — in mind.

When I became a mom, the gap between what medicine expects from us and what our families actually need became impossible to ignore. I recently saw something online that said, You’re replaceable everywhere except at home. And honestly… that hit me right in the gut. Because it’s true. Patients will always be there. Clinics will always find coverage. There are never ending Mychart messages and tasks to complete. Do I need to be the one to do it all? Not necessarily. I’m replaceable. But my kids only get one mom and all they want is my time.

Leaving the standard clinic model wasn’t about wanting “less”; it was about wanting a career that didn’t force me to choose between being a good doctor and being present for my family. I built my own practice because flexibility shouldn’t require exiting the system — but for so many of us, it does. In fact many of the successful and happy female physicians I know are 1) ones who created their own path with more flexibility and 2) have adequate support at home in the form of a spouse, family, or others. Because let’s face it - we can’t be a full time doctor and full time mom 100% of the time on our own. It’s physically impossible to be in two places at once.

I don’t share any of this to scare young women away from medicine. We absolutely need you. As your future patient I NEED YOU. I just wish someone had told me earlier about the realities, the tradeoffs, and the lack of support around maternity leave, childcare, fertility, etc. My hope is that by talking openly about these things, we can push for a version of medicine where women don’t have to sacrifice themselves to succeed — and where our daughters inherit something better than what we started with. 💛

So I ask you - would you want your kids, especially your daughters, go into medicine? Let’s talk about it.

12/08/2025

These K-beauty picks? Actually life-ruining… because everything else feels unnecessary now. 😌💄Swipe to see the makeup that changed my routine.
.ig .official

12/04/2025

In this episode of Detangling Hair Loss, you, my friend, get the real story on saw palmetto. It’s a botanical that may help lower DHT, one of the biggest drivers of pattern hair loss. The research isn’t as strong as prescription options, but some studies show it can reduce DHT and support healthier follicles, especially for those who can’t or prefer not to take oral meds.

Not a quick fix, but for the right person, it can be a helpful piece of the puzzle when used consistently.

Follow along as we keep detangling hair loss. Drop your hair loss questions below. PMID: 19359798, 19336899

12/03/2025

We need to talk about this 😅 As a derm who LOVES a good in-office cortisone shot for those deep, painful cysts, I totally get the hype. When they’re done correctly, they can shrink a monster pimple almost overnight.

But the ClearPen is being sold as an at-home cortisone injector… and that’s where things get risky. With steroid injections, the exact depth and placement matter. Too close to the surface or the wrong spot and you can get skin atrophy, pitting, or permanent light spots. Even in the clinic, we dilute carefully and still watch for complications.

So doing this at home? Not something I’d recommend. Curious… would you try it? 🤔
vc credit

12/02/2025

The things I wish someone told me in my 20s… 😌✨⁠
⁠
☀️ Tinted SPF daily⁠
Tinted sunscreen contains iron oxides that protect against visible light, which can worsen hyperpigmentation. The tint also gives light, natural coverage.⁠
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🧴 Use an antifungal shampoo weekly⁠
Ingredients like ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, or selenium sulfide help reduce Malassezia yeast, the main cause of dandruff. Weekly use keeps flakes and itch in check.⁠
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🚽 Close the toilet lid before flushing⁠
Flushing creates a “toilet plume” that can send bacteria-containing droplets onto counters, towels, and toothbrushes. Lid down keeps things cleaner.⁠
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🪥 Wash your face after brushing your teeth⁠
Fluoride and whitening agents can irritate the skin around your mouth and trigger breakouts. Washing after brushing clears away residue.⁠
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🦶 Never walk barefoot in locker rooms⁠
Warm, damp floors are perfect environments for athlete’s foot, fungal toenails, and plantar warts. Flip-flops protect you from all of it.⁠
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Listen to your derm… we’re trying to keep you thriving 🩷⁠
⁠

12/01/2025

Cyber Monday skincare picks I’m loving this year 💸✨ Starting with because her cleanser and vitamin C duo is such an easy glow boost 🍊 and a simple way to upgrade your routine.

is giving full holiday radiance with Alto for antioxidants, AlphaRet for smoothing, and sunbetter for that smooth mineral SPF finish ✨ Skinbetter’s Cyber Skincare Stock Up includes tiered free gifts when you shop.

For hyperpigmentation, really delivered 💜 Her formulas are smart, targeted, and genuinely effective.

And has all my derm staples in one place. Sunscreen, exfoliants, brighteners, barrier repair… it is basically the perfect skincare cart 🛒✨

Comment “cyber” and I will DM you my full list including skincare, haircare, clothing, and everything else I am buying. You will need to be following me so the message goes through because of privacy settings.

11/28/2025

PSA: The best Black Friday skincare deals are officially here. I rounded up the ones I actually recommend as a dermatologist so you can shop without the guesswork.

Comment blackfriday (one word) and I’ll DM you my full list skincare, haircare, clothing, and everything else I’m buying. You’ll need to be following me so the message goes through because of privacy settings. .official

11/27/2025

Thankful for this family of mine and shoutout to Karen and Peter for getting married 13 years ago and introducing me to the loml 🥰

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Seattle, WA

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http://www.teawithMD.com/

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