Wish you didn’t miss it?
Wish there were more?
Are you a clinician who’s more comfortable talking about the microbiome and how it impacts the skin, than the skin barrier itself?
You’re not alone if you feel out of your depth when the clinical conversation turns to skincare, whether that’s for problem skin or just general skin advice.
Patients arrive with shelves full of products, ingredient knowledge gathered from social media, and years of trial and error behind them. In many cases, they know more about skincare than their practitioner does or their overwhelm has become contagious and the practitioner is left feeling as deflated as the patient in being able to make a topical recommendation that would be worth a damn.
As a result, topical recommendations often become generic, overly simplistic, or are avoided altogether.
I see this in at least 8 out of 10 mentoring cases for acne and eczema; skincare has been left out of the treatment entirely, but skincare is not a minor consideration nor one to completely ignore.
Topicals have the potential to either support the skin's repair mechanisms or actively contribute to barrier dysfunction, irritation, inflammation, and treatment resistance. For many patients struggling with acne, eczema, sensitivity, dermatitis, and chronic skin concerns, the products they apply every day can be one of the most important pieces of the clinical puzzle.
The challenge is that skincare can feel overwhelming.
There are thousands of ingredients, endless formulations, conflicting opinions, and very little clinical education available to help practitioners confidently navigate it all.
It's that most have never been taught how to think about it clinically.
Many practitioners:
Feel confident with internal medicine but uncertain with topicals.
Use generic skincare recommendations that don't account for the condition of the skin barrier.
Struggle to identify which ingredients are appropriate for different presentations.
Recommend products that are too active for impaired or eczematous skin.
Rely on drying, aggressive approaches when treating acne.
Feel unsure how to layer products effectively.
Know ingredients individually but don't know how to combine them into an effective routine.
Avoid skincare discussions because they feel its outside their expertise.
Unfortunately, when topicals are overlooked, even the best treatment plan can struggle to achieve optimal results.
The reality is that patients apply their skincare every single day.
Those daily interactions can either support the work you're doing internally or actively undermine it.
For some patients, correcting a poorly suited skincare routine can dramatically improve outcomes.
For others, understanding how to support barrier repair may be the difference between persistent irritation and meaningful progress.
Topicals are an extension of holistic treatment and when used correctly, they can become one of the most powerful tools in your clinical toolkit.
Join me, Founder of The Acne & Eczema Clinic and Something Else Skincare, as we cover how to optimise and build barrier-loving routines for all skin types; as always, with special consideration to acne, eczema and problem skin.
Strictly clinicians only. Strictly live.
This Masterclass is designed for clinicians; including beauty therapists, Naturopaths and other allied health practitioners working with skin. This Masterclass is delivered live - no replays.
