Skin Boundaries!

By Alanna Douglas

It’s skin season! Finally! We can start doing some of the deeper work and make some big change. We can put our thinking caps on, and our brains can start running wild with the plethora of opportunities for skin revision.

So where to start and how do we do this in a safe and measurable way to ensure we get good treatment outcomes. The secret is in the planning and are you ready for it? The B word BOUNDARIES!

Boundaries are not only important for life, but for skin treatments. Boundaries will stop you from dealing with unhappy skin and unhappy clients by saying a very simple word, NO! Time and time again I receive distressed messages from amazing clinicians who have simply let their clients walk all over them.

This results in an unsatisfactory outcome for the client and the clinician questioning their ability. Which is so far from the truth! These outcomes have nothing to do with ability and education and everything to do with boundaries.

If your client is not prepared to listen and implement what is needed to prepare them for deeper treatments, then the very simple answer is; they do not get to have them. When we start making concessions because they have something similar at home it gets us into hot water.

We don’t know the formulation, strength and how the actives are sourced in over-the-counter brands. So, even if a client is using an off-the-shelf Alpha Hydroxy Acid it does not mean it will perform the same! Homecare is our insurance policy. You wouldn’t drive your car without insurance so why would you do that to your face?!

How do we say no? Sounds easy but it’s not, if it was, I wouldn’t be writing this article. There are so many ways to redirect and give options to your clients that put clear boundaries in place and still get the results.

For example, if they are not prepared to invest in homecare that is cosmeceutical grade, “that’s no worries we will just stick to basic treatments until we can start drip feeding some actives into your home or would you prefer to invest in your homecare and pop your treatments on hold for a bit?” This is giving them an option and you’re also setting in place a clear boundary and a solution all at the same time.

It is so much harder to explain to client after their unsatisfactory outcome or skin response that the reason why is all in the preparation and homecare. This is how you break trust and get yourself into hot water, so let’s not get there in the first place. Once you have mastered boundaries skin treatments will be less stressful and results with come with EASE.

Once you have your boundaries in place it’s time to treatment plan. I love to start with enzymes they are so versatile and will tell a story about your client’s skin. I find I can learn a lot about their barrier just by testing with an enzyme.

From here I like to spend at least a month prepping with peptides, antioxidants and a sprinkle of gentle fruit acids and a nice retinol. The icing on the cake is of course pigment inhibiting and brightening actives, I find this is a nice recipe to begin with, of course all depending on your client’s skin goals and contraindications.

Some gentle resurfacing treatments and feeding the skin with delicious infusions is a recipe for divine skin in winter. Then, of course, if you can sneak in some radiofrequency and skin needling when and if your client is ready and a suitable candidate.

So go forth, set your boundaries and go create some beautiful winter skin transformations!

With love, Alanna

Skin Freak Academy

www.skinfreakacademy.com.au hello@skinfreakacademy.com