Anyone who has ever dealt with hormonal skin conditions knows how frustrating and heartbreaking they can be. No matter the effort that is put in, it can feel like a never-ending uphill battle, and it can be difficult for professionals to help clients understand something that they themselves may not. How can professionals fight a battle with biology and genetics and try to help find a solution to certain conditions that clients have just about given up on? When should aestheticians refer out to medical professionals, and how do they work in unison with the doctor recommendations and treatment plans?  

The first and best place to start with any skin condition is to better understand the source(s), which, in turn, can allow professionals to better consult and treat or work together with clients to combat their hormonal skin conditions. A professional’s goal is to guide clients to find the best solution to combat their concerns. Whether it is something to balance their hormonal acne, lighten their hormone influenced pigmentation, or keep their collagen levels healthy, professionals need to see things that may not be in plain sight. They have to ask questions about personal matters, such as health history and medications, and make clients feel comfortable at all times to share such personal matters. Professionals must also know when to refer out to and work in conjunction with a medical professional, and what treatments are safe to use with any medications clients may have recently been prescribed for hormonal imbalances. 

Andrea Gregaydis is a licensed aesthetician and international CIDESCO diplomat. She holds multiple additional licenses as a New York state instructor and nail technician, as well as certified laser technician. Gregaydis is the lead instructor at the Aesthetic Science Institute and has over 10 years of experience as a practitioner, team coordinator, and role model for 100s of future skin care professionals. She is a contributing author to top industry trade magazines, as well as a speaker at various aesthetics conferences across the United States. She is also a CIDESCO International Examiner.