Boston-born dermatologist Dr. Lily Talakoub finished her residency at the University of California, San Francisco, then reluctantly agreed to leave the warm West Coast to start a life with her husband in his McLean hometown, where new-to-the-industry Talakoub began helping area doctors.
“I realized after only a month that I didn’t like the way that other doctors were practicing medicine,” Talakoub, who now sees 50 patients per day, recalls. “Medicine to me is not about disease, it’s about patients. It’s about the people, not about the condition.”
With that philosophy, Talakoub started McLean Dermatology & Skincare Center in 2009, subleasing space from an OBGYN and an internist before getting her own at 6849 Old Dominion Drive. In May, the center moved from its 1,800-square-foot office to a 5,000-square-foot space upstairs with 15 patient rooms, a relaxation area for numbing, a separate spa area, plus more privacy for high-profile patients who don’t want to be seen post-procedure.
But the move wasn’t the only thing keeping Talakoub busy. In December she started using radio frequency lasers that tighten skin by building collagen: THERMIsmooth for prevention, THERMItight for improvements and THERMIva, which helps women with urine leakage after vaginally delivering babies.
In June, she hopes to launch dermtodoor, a free website and app through which people can input their skin conditions, buy Talakoub’s recommended products and read her instructions for use.
“There are so many people that want to see us that can’t, that want to see somebody and get the right skincare, so this is going to bridge that gap,” Talakoub says, mentioning that on average her acne patients have already tried seven over-the-counter products before seeing a dermatologist.
On dermtodoor, users will find LANARI Skincare’s Complexion Lift Night Moisturizer, which was created by Talakoub and two other doctors as a safe, effective product for all skin types that uses retinol and a plant-based glycolic acid to exfoliate and decrease wrinkles, acne scars and dark spots.
“[Other products] can’t show that they’re efficacious on all skin types unless they’ve tested it on all skin types,” says Talakoub, who only recommends products that she’s tried. “In the U.S., that’s what skin is—it’s a blend of so many different ethnicities and backgrounds and we need to tailor to it.” // 6849 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 450, McLean; mcleandermatologycenter.com
