Cosmetic dermatology · Mission District, San Francisco
Board-certified dermatologists, unhurried consultations and evidence-based treatments, in a calm wood-and-light studio on Valencia Street.
Our approach
Alder & Lume was founded on a simple idea: cosmetic dermatology should feel as considered as it is effective. Every visit begins with a physician-led assessment of your skin, your history and your goals, so treatments are chosen for you rather than from a menu.
We favor gradual, natural-looking change, combine in-office procedures with a home regimen you will actually follow, and stock only medical-grade products with published evidence behind them.
Treatments
Every treatment below is performed or directly supervised by one of our dermatologists. Filter by what you would like to address.
7 treatments shown
Fractional lasers create thousands of microscopic treatment zones, prompting new collagen and smoother, more even skin. We choose the wavelength and depth for your skin type, from gentle non-ablative passes to fractional CO2.
Numbing cream for about 45 minutes, then 20–40 minutes of treatment. Expect warmth and redness like a sunburn, followed by fine flaking as skin renews. Results build over three to six months.
Controlled micro-channels, optionally paired with radiofrequency energy, stimulate collagen to soften acne scars, enlarged pores and early laxity. A strong choice for deeper skin tones.
Treatments are spaced four to six weeks apart. Skin looks pink and feels tight for a day or two; most patients return to work the next morning with mineral sunscreen.
Precisely placed micro-doses relax the muscles behind expression lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes, without freezing your expressions.
A fifteen-minute appointment with a fine needle. Effects appear over three to fourteen days, and we include a two-week check-in to fine-tune results.
Hyaluronic acid fillers restore volume lost with time in the cheeks, temples, lips and under-eyes, and can soften deeper folds. Our physicians work from facial anatomy, not trends.
Fillers are reversible. Mild swelling or bruising is possible for a few days; we recommend avoiding major events for two weeks after a first treatment.
Medical-grade peels, from gentle lactic and mandelic acids to medium-depth TCA, brighten dullness, clear congestion and fade sun spots and melasma.
Most peels take under thirty minutes. Light peels cause little visible flaking; medium peels shed over about a week. Strict sun protection matters most here.
Broadband light targets brown spots, broken capillaries and the persistent flushing of rosacea, leaving a clearer, more even complexion.
Each pass feels like a quick snap. Spots darken and flake away over seven to ten days. IPL is best suited to lighter skin tones; we will recommend alternatives where it is not.
A focused consultation to build a daily regimen around retinoids, antioxidants, pigment correctors and sunscreen, selected from our curated, evidence-backed shelf.
Bring the products you use today. We will keep what works, retire what does not, and write down a simple morning and evening routine for you.
Treatment information is general and educational. Suitability, number of sessions and downtime vary by person and are confirmed at your consultation.
Your first visit
A 45-minute conversation with a dermatologist, including a close skin analysis under polarized light.
A written plan with options at different budgets and timelines, and honest guidance on what will and will not help.
Treatments in private rooms, a home regimen, and scheduled check-ins to adjust as your skin responds.
The studio
Our second-floor studio on Valencia Street was designed to lower your shoulders the moment you arrive: warm walnut and white oak, travertine underfoot, and daylight through linen. Behind the calm sit fully equipped clinical rooms and current-generation lasers.
New patients
Tell us a little about yourself and what you would like to address. Our patient coordinator will reach out within one business day to find a time.
Please do not include medical history or other sensitive health details here. We will collect those securely at your visit.
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