101 GUIDE TO DR. DANA
DR DANA STERN’S STORY
A trusted and respected nail specialist, Dr Dana Stern is one of the only board-certified dermatologists who devotes her entire practice to the diagnosis and treatment of the nail. But, to our surprise, nail care wasn’t always her first choice. “When I was a dermatopharmacology fellow at Mount Sinai, the chairman of the dermatology department asked me to apply for a research grant from an organisation called The Council for Nail Disorders. He was hoping to find the next nail expert in our hospital and wanted that person to be me. At the time, I had very little interest in nails, but I applied for the grant and was awarded it. After doing a study on brittle nails – that ended up being a published in a premier dermatology journal – I became very interested in nails. I spent time with several mentors and over time my practice in NYC became the only dermatology practice in the U.S that was entirely devoted to the treatment and surgery of the nail.” Now that’s what we call fate…
THE MAKING OF DR. DANA – THE BRAND
Highlighting the significance of nail care, Dr. Dana launched back in 2022 to ensure people cared for their nails like they do their skin. “My patients were my original inspiration. When I first started practicing, it became noticeably clear that there was a distinct gap in the nail care market. My patients would come to my office expressing frustration with bags of ineffective products in tow. When I looked closely at the products, I could formulas were loaded with toxic ingredients and designed to camouflage or patch the issues they claimed to treat, rather than address the underlying issue at hand. As a board-certified dermatologist, I had witnessed incredible innovation in the skin care space and was surprised to see how behind the times the nail care industry was. I saw the opportunity and was motivated to provide my patients with products that have real science behind them created with high quality, good-for-the-nail ingredients.”
BUT, WHY IS NAIL CARE SO IMPORTANT
Now we know how the brand came about, it’s time to understand just how important nail care is as Dr Dana Stern explains its benefits and functioning purpose. “We live in a hand-held world where we are all clutching our phones and so the focus is on the nails! While colour and nail art can be a fun, short-lived creative accessory that doesn’t break the bank, nails also serve a functional purpose. Nails protect the tips of the digits and help with fine motor grasping. If you have ever worn a band aid on a nail and have struggled to button a blouse or take off a necklace, you know how much we use our nails for grasping. It is therefore crucial that we keep our nails healthy.” Putting into context, Dr Dana Stern makes the comparison to skin care. “When your skin is dry and peeling you reach for the nearest loofah or skin care brush to exfoliate the dead cells to allow for maximum absorption of your moisturiser. The same concept is true of the nail. If you were to look at a nail under the microscope, you would see that there are layers of damaged, dehydrated cells. This is why the why polish doesn’t always go on so smoothly and has more of a tendency to chip. Essential exfoliation is key. The best way to achieve essential exfoliation and healthy nails? Our Nail Renewal System – the first nail treatment system to incorporate glycolic acid, which has been shown in the medical literature to have nail rejuvenation properties.”
WHAT IS DR. DANA’S NAIL RENEWAL SYSTEMT
A ten-minute, once-weekly, three-step treatment system, Dr. Dana’s Nail Renewal System removes the risk of a weak, brittle set. “Our system immediately reveals healthier, shinier and stronger nail after just a single treatment. Preparing them for and extending the life of manicures, the kit features our glycolic acid formula and priming wand to remove surface irregularities, then hydrates and fortifies with phospholipid-rich essential oils.
DR DANA STERN’S TOP TIPS FOR LOOKING AFTER YOUR NAILS
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WHAT’S NEXT FOR DR. DANA
“My patients continue to inspire me to solve nail issues that are not addressed at market. Nail health is Dr. Dana’s DNA. We will continue to innovate and deliver products that are formulated with science-backed ingredients and deliver demonstrable results – and by this, I mean fortified nails without the pitfalls of polish or a trip to the salon.”
We like that sound of that…
Cult Beauty’s Senior SEO Copywriter, Trifonia started out in the industry when bold brows were just becoming a ‘thing’, and shares a passion for all things fashion and beauty. Currently embracing her curly girl journey (after endless years of straightening her strands), she is finally reverting to her natural ways! When Triffy isn’t busy testing out the latest curl-saving solutions, you’ll find her binging the latest reality TV show or on a long walk listening to her ever-evolving country music playlist.
