Dr Rogers on Sensory Cues

Dr. Heather D. Rogers is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Doctor Rogers Skincare. Known for her science-meets-simplicity approach, she champions skin healing through clean, effective ingredients that support the body’s natural repair process. I sat down with her to talk about the gaps she saw in post-procedure care, the rituals that help her stay grounded as a doctor and founder, and how skincare can act as a sensory cue to help the body feel safe enough to heal.

Founding & Purpose

What inspired you to build something so specific and necessary in skincare?

• As a practicing dermatologist and surgeon, I kept seeing patients struggle with reactions to skincare products, many of which were marketed as “clean” or “natural” but weren’t rigorously formulated or tested. I built Doctor Rogers Skin Care because I needed products I could trust—safe enough for compromised skin, effective enough to support healing, and sustainable enough to reflect how I live and practice.

Was there a moment in your practice that made you realize there was a gap in healing-focused skincare?

• Yes. After performing procedures or treating inflamed skin, I often had nothing on the shelf I could recommend with complete confidence. Most products had irritating ingredients, cheap occlusive, or were environmentally irresponsible. That frustration became the fuel to create something better—starting with one product that did everything right for healing skin, my Restore Healing Balm.

What daily ritual helps you return to your “why” on the hard days?

• Touching base with a patient—whether hearing about their relief in being cancer-free or seeing their confidence grow —reminds me why I do all of this. Their skin improving means their life improves, and that keeps me centered and motivated in being a doctor

Are there any practices that help you transition from being a doctor to being a founder—or from work to rest?

• I walk my dog without my phone. It’s simple, but that act of stepping away from screens, from constant demands, and just moving through fresh air gives me space to shift gears. It’s where my mind gets quiet and ideas often take shape.

As someone working in wellness through science, what role does intuition play in your process?

• Intuition guides where I look more closely. Science is how I validate what I suspect. After years of treating skin, you develop an instinct for what will help or harm, and that experience is invaluable—but it always needs to be backed by evidence.

How do you balance evidence-based formulation with your own instincts as a clinician and founder?

• The balance comes from asking the right questions. What does the data say? What does my clinical experience say? What will this product actually do on compromised skin, not just ideal skin? I never assume something is safe or effective just because it’s trendy or “natural.”

Has creating this company changed how you listen to your body or regulate your energy?

• Absolutely. Building a company while practicing medicine full-time has forced me to be more aware of when I’m running on fumes, made me better at saying no so I have enough in the tank for things that are most important to me. My family, my patients, my work teams.

What sensory cues (like scent, touch, or light) help you shift your internal state throughout the day?

• Natural light is a big one. If I’m stuck inside too long, I’ll step outside, even briefly. The shift in light and air helps me reset. All my exam rooms have windows that are covered but I added in a strip of clear glass at the top so I can see outside.

How do you care for your nervous system during periods of high stress or output?

• I prioritize sleep and exercise now. I know I function differently when I’m rested and I handle stress better when I get exercise—it’s not optional at the levels I expect myself to function day in and day out.. I also simplify everything I can: fewer decisions, cleaner routines, even fewer steps in skincare. It’s about reducing friction.

What does “resetting” look like for you—physically, mentally, or emotionally?

• Physically, it’s movement. Mentally, it’s setting boundaries around tech, making time to read a few pages of a good book. Emotionally, it’s seeing my kids and laughing with them. That snaps me back to what matters.

Is there a particular scent, space, or ritual that helps you feel most anchored?

• Clean sheets, warm light, and a quiet, clean house. That combination—usually at night, post-shower—signals to my nervous system that it’s safe to let go.

What do you hope more women give themselves permission to feel?

• I hope more women allow themselves to feel at ease—not because everything’s perfect, but because they’ve stopped over-performing for everyone else.

Has your relationship to skincare or sensory wellness changed as you've become more attuned to how your body responds to stress, sleep, and external inputs?

• Yes. I now see skincare not just as functional, but as a sensory signal to the nervous system. It’s not indulgence—it’s information. The right product can remind your skin—and your mind—that you’re safe, supported, and healing.