An interesting
article was brought to my attention from a
LinkedIn discussion posted by Anne Dimon of
Travel To Wellness . The New York Times article by Catherine St. Louis, essentially pitts Dermatologists against Aestheticians in a battle of which field knows best and are facials really worth it. It is clear there are unfortunate extremes on both sides of the spectrum. Spas that offer hyped up menus full of services that do not provide results as well as Dermatologist's that are just happy to write a prescription before even asking a single quesion. The key is finding your personal preference of one over the other or a good balance between the two.
The article hits close to home not only from a business perspective because I am a Licensed Aesthetican at
Nurture , but more importantly from a personal perspective because I have struggled with problem skin for over a decade. Aside from sampling nearly every skincare product on the market, I have been to numerous Dermatologists and Aestheticians. Here is my personal opinion in response to the article.
My skin troubles began when I was a sophmore in high school and became full blown acne by the time I was a senior. At first it seemed to be categorized as normal hormonal fluctuations that I would "grow out of", but once my parents realized the negative effect it was having on my self-esteem, they were willing to try anything, as was I. And try anything and everything has been my mantra ever since.
I visited Dermatologist after Dermatologist, in every state I lived in. Each one all too eager to write me a prescription and send me on my way. I was discouraged and disappointed by the fact that not only did the meds not work, but nobody ever seemed interested in asking me questions or trying to explain what was going on.
Aestheticians, on the other hand, seemed to truly care about what I was going through, physically and emotionally. At a Spa, I found the bedside manner that had been lacking at the Dermatologist's offices. Finally, I was being asked questions about my diet, exercise routine, and which products I was using. The aestheticians I visited took the time to explain the importance of a skin care routine and which ingredients to look for and why. Aestheticians were able to point out that my skin was not necessarily oily, which is common with problem skin, but sensitive. I was able to learn that the drying ingredients in acne products were doing more harm than good.
Not every single treatment I tried worked, but some of them did. There were times that I left the Spa feeling like I could take on the world, my blemishes had been reduced and my skin tone was more even. Other times I would leave in a panic to hurry home, with a streaked and red face. Microdermabrasion
did not work for me and seemed to irritate my sensitive skin even. Chemical peels
did work for me and without the streaky red downtime of microdermabrasion. Wading through the trial and error process with my local Aesthetician was much more bearable than at a Dermatologist's office. Every penny spent was worth it, even if it was just to know someone was in my corner.
When my skin care journey began I was young and impatient. I wanted to see immediate results and did not fully understand the inner workings of the skin as the body's largest organ. Now I realize what I was looking for more than anything was someone to hold my hand and to be understanding. Which is what I found through my experiences with Aestheticians.
I have since found a wonderful place in the Dermatology Clinic in Hot Springs, and would recommend anyone to the absolutely fabulous Rebecca Gartner. I keep up with a strenuous skin care regimen and am fortunate to be able to administer my own chemical peels. I schedule facials anytime I can, especially when on vacation, which I refer to as Triple R & D, Rest, Relaxation, Research, and Development. While I will always be baffled by women that never wash their face yet never have a blemish, I have accepted I will never be one of those women that can leave the house without a stitch of makeup.
It may seem silly, but my problem skin has been a blessing and a curse. My small personal struggle peaked my interest in learning everything I could about skin care, skin treatments, and makeup. I continue to pour over books and magazines looking for any helpful tidbits and have learned my way around a makeup brush to cover blemishes without a 'caked on' look. Not only is it the reason I wanted to become an Aesthetician but also the reason I can relate to what my clients are going through. I have chosen to offer products and treatments that I can stand behind because they have worked for me. I can honestly say that if it weren't for those pesky bills I would do my job for free and that makes me feel extremely grateful.
I truly enjoyed reading Anne Dimon's
response to the New York Times article as well.
The Be Nurtured URL is now "http://www.nurturedayspa.blogspot.com"
Namaste
. "It (namaste) is a gesture acknowledging the divine spark within each of us that tranlates as 'I honor the divine witin you from the divine within me'. Place your hands in prayer position, feel the thumbs connect to your heart center, close your eyes, and bow your head. The modern yoga girl approaches others, who are all her teachers, with respect and honor-from her fave barista to a respected mentor." 
by the brilliant Elizabeth Gilbert. If we look deeper into her journey we find that she is ultimately searching for the 'Middle Way'. I had an absolute love affair with Eat, Pray, Love and am looking forward to delving into it again this year. 
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