SkinLUX MD Featured in The San Diego Union-Tribune

News
Written by Jessica Yu, MD

As Featured in The San Diego Union-Tribune

We’re honored to share that SkinLUX MD was recently featured in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The article, written by Karen Billing, ran online on May 25, 2026 and in print in the Del Mar Times North Coastal section on May 28, 2026. It covers the opening of our practice in Carmel Valley.

Aesthetic medicine, held to a medical standard

SkinLUX MD was founded by Jessica Yu, MD on a simple principle: aesthetic care should meet the same standard of trust as any other area of medicine. Every treatment we offer is physician-supervised and evidence-based. Each one is guided by a detailed understanding of facial anatomy, the structure beneath the skin that shapes how results look and last.

Inspired by K-beauty

Our approach draws on the Korean beauty philosophy, which values skin health, a natural glow, and results that never look overdone. The goal is skin that looks smooth, healthy, and luminous, often called “glass skin,” and it guides every treatment plan. We believe less is more.

Rooted in our community

Dr. Yu and her family have called Carmel Valley home since 2022. After more than a decade in pediatric medicine, she opened SkinLUX MD to bring physician-led aesthetic care to her own neighborhood.

“This community has been incredibly welcoming,” Dr. Yu shared with the Union-Tribune.

Our Services

Every SkinLUX MD treatment is physician-supervised and personalized to your skin, with a K-beauty focus on health, balance, and natural radiance.

XERF Skin Tightening
A non-invasive radiofrequency treatment for firmer-looking skin, FDA-cleared in 2025.

LaseMD Ultra Laser
A gentle, non-ablative fractional laser that refines skin texture and tone.

Neurotoxins
Softens the look of expression lines while keeping your natural expressions.

Dermal Fillers
Restores volume and facial balance with an anatomy-first approach.

Microneedling
Supports the skin’s natural renewal for smoother-looking texture.

Chemical Peels
Medical-grade peels that brighten and renew the skin’s surface.

Explore all services →

Jessica Yu, MD

About Dr. Jessica Yu, MD

Founder, Owner & Medical Director - SkinLUX MD, Carmel Valley

Dr. Jessica Yu is a licensed physician and surgeon in California, board-certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics, and the founder and medical director of SkinLUX MD, a physician-led medical spa in Carmel Valley, San Diego. She established SkinLUX MD to bring a more thoughtful, medically grounded approach to aesthetic care - one rooted in skin health and natural-looking results rather than trend-driven treatments.

As a board-certified physician, Dr. Yu brings the clinical standards of hospital medicine - careful diagnosis, patient safety, and conservative, evidence-informed judgment - to a field where those standards aren't always the norm. That medical discipline, not a sales mindset, is what guides every recommendation at SkinLUX MD.

Dr. Yu completed her undergraduate education at the University of Toronto, earned her medical degree from the University of Sydney, and completed her residency training through the University of Hawaii. She brings more than a decade of clinical medicine to her aesthetic practice, and that medical foundation shapes everything at SkinLUX MD: careful patient assessment, evidence-informed treatment selection, and recommendations made in the patient's genuine interest.

Her philosophy is inspired by the K-beauty tradition of long-term skin health - the idea that the best aesthetic outcomes come from supporting the skin over time, not forcing dramatic, unnatural change. At SkinLUX MD, every treatment is physician-supervised, and every patient receives an honest, personalized plan based on what is actually appropriate for their skin and goals.

Dr. Yu personally oversees the practice's advanced treatments, including XERF, the multifrequency monopolar radiofrequency platform used for non-invasive skin tightening and collagen remodeling. She believes patients make their best decisions when they're fully informed, which is why education - not pressure - is at the center of the SkinLUX MD experience.

SkinLUX MD serves Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, and the surrounding North County San Diego communities.

Credentials & verification

  • Licensed Physician and Surgeon, State of California — Verify on the Medical Board of California

  • Board-certified in Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics — Verify on Certification Matters (ABMS)

  • Founder & Medical Director, SkinLUX MD

  • Education: University of Toronto (undergraduate) · University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine (medical degree) · University of Hawaii (residency)

Next

Recognized Expertise: Dr. Jessica Yu Named Among XERF's Aesthetic Leaders