Breaking Beauty Podcast

The Exact K-Beauty Skincare and Treatments That are Worth Your Money with Dermatologist Dr. David Kim

Feb 4, 2026
Dr. David Kim, a Stanford- and Columbia-trained board-certified dermatologist who blends Korean aesthetics with Western dermatology and founded Lightsaver, dives into K‑Beauty must-knows. He unpacks PDRN salmon sperm treatments, oral tranexamic acid for melasma, spicules versus microneedling, Pico lasers for texture, non-surgical lifting tech, and the K‑Beauty layering rituals worth trying.
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INSIGHT

Prevention-First Korean Aesthetic Mindset

  • K-Beauty emphasizes prevention: people start treatments in their mid-late 20s to early 30s to maintain skin.
  • The U.S. still leans toward a fix-it approach, with patients seeking dermatology later when problems appear.
INSIGHT

Different Beauty Ideals Shape Treatments

  • Aesthetic ideals differ: Korea favors softer, heart-shaped faces while the U.S. often prefers sharp, contoured features.
  • Those cultural differences shape treatment choices like jaw contouring or cheek augmentation.
ANECDOTE

Personal Experience With Salmon Sperm Treatments

  • David Kim tried salmon sperm DNA with microneedling in Korea and found it notable but didn't do the injectable form then.
  • He notes PDRN has a decade of research and broad clinical uses beyond skin.
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