This past week I finally built up the courage to pick up my phone and dial the number of my dermatologist's office. As someone who has dealt with autoimmune conditions for the majority of her life, the last thing I want to do is spend more time in sterile offices filled with the buzz of fax machines and crinkling of stiff table paper. Things had built up to the point where I felt I needed to see a doctor, and so here I was waiting for the apathetic secretary to care more about my date of birth than my actual name or reasons for calling.
Unfortunately, I can't say that my appointment changed my opinions on doctors, and in fact, I am now even more hesitant to pick up the phone. I'm, or we're, fortunate enough that there are professionals, besides the degree-certified medical professionals, that can typically take care of our concerns.
Based off of the long-term relationship I've had with medical offices and the shorter friendship I've built with spas, I've compiled a list of why I'd rather see an esthetician than a doctor for my dermatology needs:
1. Dimmed lights are much more calming than the fluorescents.
Typically, you are seeing a dermatologist for something that makes you self-conscious. Let's be honest, things on the skin aren't typically the prettiest. The fluorescent lights of your personal exam room certainly don't ease any comfort levels of sitting on a cold table with dangling feet. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, the doctor ominously enters the closed door, pulling out a small, bright light from her lab coat pocket beginning to poke and prod at your skin with cold fingertips. And you thought you were self-conscious before? Visiting an esthetician is an entirely different experience. You are typically greeted with a glass of water before you change into a comfortable robe and find a few minutes of silent relaxation on the heated table that I could argue is more comfortable than my own bed after a long day. Spa music and dim lighting, the esthetician enters calmly and eases you that everything will be taken care of. I think the choice is easy here…
2. My skin isn’t the only thing that’s improved.
My skin's appearance has improved dramatically in my time seeing my esthetician. For obvious reasons, it has boosted my confidence. I can be honest in saying that I hardly wear makeup and the amount of time I spend analyzing every line, bump, and dot has decreased incredibly. I've gone from an over-analytical skin picker to a girl who can jump out of the shower and head to class in less than ten. My confidence has not only improved because of my outer appearance but each visit I have with my esthetician, I walk out of the spa feeling fuller inside. The conversations we share always result in her giving me tips and suggestions that I know can be applied to the rest of my life.
3. Relationships grow under the magnifier.
In my personal opinion, being face-to-face with another person, especially one who is searching every centimeter of your skin, can really build a close relationship. I refer to my esthetician as my "mom away from home." After two years of sharing life updates, I know I can always be myself, a vulnerable self, while I'm in the spa. She's always there to give a hug, to listen to what seems like life's biggest drama, and to wipe away your tears. It's an added benefit that she can get rid of the redness and puffiness after the waterworks! After the foundations of our relationship were built, my esthetician even provided me with her personal cell phone number, which she always encourages me to use, even if it doesn't apply to a skin issue.
4. Quicker results and a follow up call.
Ever wish you didn't spend five minutes in a doctor's office to be told to apply a cream five times a day for the next five months and then come back to see if there are any improvements? You'd be lying if you said no…I can guarantee this isn't the case with an esthetician. While some issues do take longer than others to improve, the longest I've had to wait to see improvements is from walking in the door of the spa to walking out! Even if the issue isn't fully fixed, my esthetician asks to see me back within the week and will even give me a call in between appointments to see how everything is going. The best is when a new kind of treatment is done and my esthetician calls within the hour to ensure that nothing has gone wrong. Really, what more could you want? Free samples? Yep! She includes those too!
While I may have these opinions, I can't forget to add the very important detail that this hasn't held true for every esthetician I've seen. The task of finding the right esthetician for you is no small feat, just like finding the right doctor. But once you do find that person for you, the benefits they provide you will far outweigh those of a doctor. And one final note, if you do need medical attention, do be sure to receive a professional opinion.
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