Benefits of Consulting a Dermal Clinician

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Consulting a Dermal Clinician is generally the beginning of your skin journey. This is where you can:

  • Build a customised home-care regime
  • Find which treatments may or may not suit your skin
  • Build a treatment plan (whether it be long or short term)
  • Gain a better understanding of your skin
  • Get to know your practitioner

When it comes to skin care and treatments, most of us start on the same road: Google! We Google “Best treatment for acne” or “Best anti-ageing serum” and then we’re led down a deep rabbit hole of clinics, ads, online skin care stores and 101 treatments all with endless promises and guarantees. Whilst we encourage online research, this can be overwhelming and confusing. That’s why your first step at Southern Cosmetics is a Consultation.

Whether it be with a Doctor, Nurse or Dermal Clinician first and foremost we need to identify your needs, your skins needs, your goals and how we can best meet them.

What is a Dermal Clinician?
Dermal Clinicians specialise in skin management and non-surgical intervention of both acute and chronic skin disorders. The scope of practice of a Dermal Clinician within that definition is therefore relatively broad, however it is underpinned by one primary factor: Education. Alongside a Bachelor in Health Sciences specialising in Dermal Therapies a Dermal Clinician undergoes varying additional training and ongoing education to keep up with current research and industry standards.  Studies include skin and wound biology, dermatological conditions and management, chemistry, psychology and general anatomy and physiology, as every system of the body can impact the health of the skin. It is with this underlying knowledge that Dermal Clinicians can assess and manage the appropriate intervention for an individual’s skin concerns.

What Conditions can a Dermal Clinician Treat?
Common conditions and diseases that are treated by Dermal Clinicians include:

  • Acne
  • Rosacea
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema and dermatitis
  • Xerosis (excessively dry skin)
  • Hyperkeratosis (thickened skin)
  • Photo damage (sun damage)
  • Pigmentary disorders and dyschromia (eg uneven pigment, brown spots)
  • Intrinsic and extrinsic ageing (normal and premature ageing)
  • Vascular disorders and conditions (e.g. birthmarks, telangiectasia/dilated capillaries, superficial spider veins on the face and body).
  • Assisting with optimal wound repair for acute and chronic wounds.
  • Scar management and minimisation.
  • Excessive or unwanted pilosity (hair growth)
  • Oedema management
  • Skin management associated with diabetes, arterial or venous insufficiency and disease.
  • Lymphoedema
  • Localised adiposity (localised fat deposits)
  • Tattoo removal

Do I need a referral to see a Dermal Clinician?
Dermal Clinicians are independent practitioners and therefore you do not need a referral to be consulted or treated by one. However, other health practitioners often refer patients to Dermal Clinicians. At Southern Cosmetics we work collaboratively to address patient needs and therefore often a patient will first see a Doctor or Cosmetic Nurse before seeing a Dermal Clinician, or may be recommended a treatment plan that incorporates the collaboration or a combination of these specialities to achieve optimal outcomes.

What to expect during a skin consultation
A skin consultation with a Dermal Clinician will take 30 – 45 minutes and will cover in detail your:

  • Medical history
  • Treatment history
  • Skin concerns and expectations
  • Extrinsic factors that may be affecting your skin
  • Home care regime

It will also include an assessment of the skin and digital imaging (this will allow you to look back on your skin journey, assessing efficacy and progress). Before you come in for your consultation, it is important to consider what you  would like to improve or change about your skin? What changes have you noticed in your skin and what has triggered these changes? Also, what level of commitment are you willing to invest into your skin journey. It is important to be honest about the commitment you wish to make, because this will guide your practitioner to what expectations we can realistically meet.

Is a consultation worth it?
With so much information available online it is tempting to skip a consultation and go straight into treatment. However, with a deeper understanding of not only your skin but also you, your Dermal Clinician can prescribe a course of treatment that is not only safe and effective but also one that suits your needs and goals best. Quality skin care often requires an investment of time and money, by following the guidance of a qualified practitioner, you can undertake a plan that is specifically and knowledgeably tailored to your needs so that you can get the most out of that investment.

Where to from here?
Book in! Our team will guide you to the practitioner you will initially see and we’ll take it from there. Leaving your consultation you should have a clear and broad understanding of:

  • The plan your Dermal Clinician has determined for you
  • The cost, downtime, and risks associated with the treatment you will be undertaking
  • Why they have recommended what they have
  • What products will help you achieve this goal, and why
  • The appropriate pre and post care in relation to your treatment
  • How to contact your practitioner if you have any further questions.

Author:   Nela Plecic, Dermal Clinician at Southern Cosmetics