Skin Care in Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, SC

Reviewed by Ashley Harwyn, PA-C, ABAAHP  |  A4M Board Certified  |  Updated October 4, 2026

Most good skin comes from three daily habits. Here is what the evidence supports, which of our treatments fits which concern, and where cosmetic care should stop.

This page is the map of our skin services. It explains the basics that matter for almost everyone, then points you to the page for your exact concern, whether that is breakouts, scars, dark spots, a dull complexion, or care after a laser treatment. If a spot on your skin is new or changing, skip ahead to the section on when to see a dermatologist, because that comes before anything cosmetic.[6]

• Wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin every day, and reapply about every two hours when you are outdoors.[1]
• In a randomized trial of 903 adults younger than 55, the group told to use sunscreen daily showed 24% less skin aging over 4.5 years than the group that used it when they chose.[2]
• Tretinoin is the best-studied retinoid for sun-damaged skin. Retinol is gentler but weaker, and most of the visible change takes months, not weeks.[3]
• Under federal law, a product sold to cleanse or beautify is a cosmetic, while one meant to change how your skin works is legally a drug, so read bold label promises with care.[4]
• For acne, the 2024 dermatology guideline gives its strongest backing to benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, and oral doxycycline.[5]
• A new or changing mole needs a board-certified dermatologist first, not a facial, a peel, or a laser.[6]

The daily routine that does most of the work

Start with sunscreen, because a long randomized trial shows it slows visible skin aging.[2] The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a product that is broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistant.[1] SPF 30 blocks about 97% of the sun's UVB rays. Higher numbers block only slightly more, and they do not last any longer on your skin.[1] Most adults need about one ounce, roughly a shot glass, to cover the skin that clothing leaves bare.[1]

Does daily use really change how your skin ages? A randomized trial in the sunny town of Nambour, Australia, put this to the test. Adults younger than 55 were assigned to daily sunscreen or to their usual habits. After 4.5 years, the daily group showed no detectable increase in skin aging, and aging was 24% less than in the comparison group.[2] The authors noted some missing data and modest statistical power, so treat 24% as a good estimate, not an exact promise. The same trial found that beta-carotene supplements had no overall effect on skin aging.[2]

Cleansing should be gentle. The AAD suggests warm water, a mild cleanser applied with your fingertips, and a full rinse.[7] Skip the scrub. Scrubbing irritates skin and can make conditions like acne worse.[7] Not smoking matters too, because smoking speeds up skin aging and slows wound healing.[7] After that, choose products made for your skin type and any skin condition you have, rather than stacking every product a store recommends.[7]

The third habit is a retinoid at night. Among retinoids, tretinoin (a prescription) is the most potent and the best studied for sun-damaged skin, with trials showing smoother texture and fewer fine and coarse wrinkles.[3] In one year-long trial, most of the change appeared after about six months.[3] Retinol, sold without a prescription, is roughly 20 times less potent than tretinoin, because the skin must convert it first.[3]

Retinoids often cause itching, burning, redness, or peeling at first. The usual fix is to apply less often or switch to a gentler retinoid, not to quit.[3] If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, stop topical retinoids and tell us, so we can choose something else.[3]

Which of our skin services fits your concern

The table matches common concerns to a first step with evidence behind it and to the page that covers our treatment in depth.

A few notes on the menu. Our facials include deep cleansing, LED, enzyme treatments, and ZO protocols built on salicylic acid or retinoic acid, plus dermaplaning and soothing care after a laser session. Chemical peels go a step deeper for tone and texture. Our laser services run on a Fotona platform, and that page lists each treatment and its downtime.

For acne scars, the first step is to stop new ones from forming. The guideline strongly recommends isotretinoin for acne that is leaving scars, which shows how seriously scarring is taken.[5] Smoothing older scars is a separate step, covered on the scars page.

You can see us at either of two offices: The Longevity Club on Rutledge Avenue in downtown Charleston, or our Bramson Court office in Mount Pleasant. Ashley Harwyn, PA-C is our clinician, board certified in anti-aging and functional medicine, and any prescription in your plan, such as tretinoin or spironolactone, goes through her.

ZO Skin Health and ALASTIN: what physician-dispensed products are

We carry two professional product lines: ZO Skin Health and ALASTIN Skincare. “Physician-dispensed” or “professional” describes where a product is sold. It does not mean every product is a prescription drug, and it does not mean the FDA has reviewed it.

Here is the legal line, because it shapes what any cream can honestly claim. A cosmetic is meant for cleansing, beautifying, or changing how you look. A product meant to treat disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body, is a drug.[4] Cosmetics, apart from color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on sale.[4] Some products are both. A moisturizer with sunscreen, for example, is a cosmetic and a drug at the same time.[4]

So when a label says a serum “builds collagen” or “repairs” skin, that is the maker's claim, not an FDA finding. Unless independent studies back it, we treat it as a claim. A routine you enjoy is a routine you keep, and that is a fair reason to like a product line. We will still tell you which ingredients have independent evidence, such as sunscreen and retinoids, and which benefits are mainly marketing.

ALASTIN is used mostly for care after procedures such as a laser treatment or injectables. ZO has products for many skin types, including the salicylic and retinoid products used in some of our facials. Each line has its own page with more detail.

Shelf full of products, and no idea which ones matter? Bring them, or photos of the labels. Call 843-981-0870 to book, and we will sort what to keep, what to drop, and whether a treatment belongs in your plan at all.

Acne, hormones, stress, and the rest of you

Acne is not just a teen problem. The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology guideline notes that it affects adults, teens, and children as young as 9.[5] Built on a systematic review, it is the backbone of how we treat breakouts.

Its strongest recommendations go to benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, topical antibiotics, and oral doxycycline.[5] Salicylic acid, azelaic acid, combined birth control pills, and spironolactone (a pill that blocks some hormone effects) get conditional recommendations, a step below strong.[5] Oral isotretinoin is strongly recommended for severe acne, acne that leaves scars, or acne that has not cleared with standard treatment.[5]

In practice, medical acne care here can include prescription washes, retinoids, salicylic acid, oral medicines, and laser for selected cases. For adult women whose breakouts follow their cycle, we may check hormones and discuss whether a hormone-blocking option fits. Our acne treatment page explains each option, what the first months look like, and the safety checks for each medicine.

We also ask about stress, sleep, diet, and the products you use. Stress can trigger flare-ups of acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea, so it belongs in the conversation.[7] We are honest about the limits here. The medicines listed above are the ones with guideline backing, and we do not promise that diet or supplements alone will clear your skin.

When a spot needs a dermatologist instead

Cosmetic skin care has a firm boundary, and we want you to know where it is. A mole or spot that is new, looks different from your others, or is changing, itching, or bleeding needs a board-certified dermatologist to examine it.[6] That exam comes before any peel, laser, or facial on that area.

The AAD teaches the ABCDEs as warning signs of melanoma:[6]

• A for asymmetry: one half of the spot does not match the other.
• B for border: the edge is irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.
• C for color: shades vary from one area to the next, such as tan, brown, black, white, red, or blue.
• D for diameter: melanomas are usually larger than 6 millimeters (about a pencil eraser) when found, though they can be smaller.
• E for evolving: the spot is changing in size, shape, or color.

Checking your own skin helps, because self-exams can find skin cancer early, when it is highly treatable.[7] If we notice a spot like this during a skin visit, we will say so plainly and help you get it checked. We would rather send you to the right specialist than treat a spot that has not been diagnosed.