Acne Awareness Month: The Link Between Hair Care and Skin Health

As we celebrate Acne Awareness Month, Iris Rubin, MD, a Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of SEEN Hair Care, shares her unique journey in investigating the overlooked connection between hair products and acne-prone skin. Rubin, who previously led the laser program at Children's National in Washington, DC, never thought she would launch her own brand. Her clinical insight and personal experience with acne triggered by salon visits led to this revelation, sparking the creation of SEEN, a science-backed hair care line designed with skin in mind.

Through clinical research, Rubin discovered that even traditional shampoo and conditioner can leave residue on the skin for hours post-use, contributing to skin conditions like acne, eczema, and irritation. She emphasized that because these products come into frequent contact with the face, back, and scalp, they should be considered part of a person’s overall skin care regimen. SEEN’s formulations are specifically designed to be non-comedogenic and safe for sensitive skin, filling a critical gap in both dermatological and consumer hair care.

SEEN is at the forefront of the “skinification” of hair care, a growing movement that applies dermatological science to hair product development. While many brands incorporate skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides, SEEN advances this concept by also considering how hair products affect skin health. The line is formulated to promote not only healthy hair and scalp but also clearer, calmer skin.

Clinical results support SEEN’s efficacy. In a dermatologist-graded study of 27 patients with mild to moderate acne, 70% of those with body acne and 52% with facial acne showed improvement after using SEEN for eight weeks. Although the products do not have any active medicated ingredients, the line also caters to patients with eczema, sensitive skin, or fragrance allergies. SEEN’s fragrance-free variants hold the National Eczema Association Seal of Approval and offer a rare solution for those needing gentle yet effective hair care.

“Anyone who has acne-prone skin really deserves to know the impact that hair products can have on the skin,” Rubin told Dermatology Times. “At SEEN, we really are redefining and raising the bar on the ‘skinification of hair’, not just using skin science to make hair products better...but also looking at the impact of hair products on the skin, face, and body.”