Key learnings from a decade as a skin therapist

Some of the most important things I’ve learned as a skin therapist didn’t come from textbooks or dermatology journals.

They came from hands-on experience - and from navigating the very human side of this work: building trust, managing expectations, and guiding people with care and honesty.

If I could give advice to a new skin therapist - or even someone who's been in the industry for a while - these would be my key points:

1. You need to be comfortable with saying NO.

   
   

The kind of people who are drawn to this job are typically highly empathetic, caring, selfless, and giving. And these traits definitely make for a better skin therapist - but the flip side of these traits is that many of us are also people pleasers who struggle with disappointing people, confrontation, or simply saying no when we need to.

And make no mistake - you will need to.

There are a number of situations in your career as a skin therapist where you’ll need to disappoint your client and tell them no: 

• If their skin barrier is impaired and treating them would only make it worse

• If their skin isn't properly prepped, risking adverse outcomes like hyper-pigmentation

• If the treatment they booked simply isn’t appropriate for their skin at that point in time

When you work with advanced skin treatments, it’s never one-size-fits-all - not every treatment is suitable for every client.

Sometimes you'll need to reschedule the appointment. Sometimes you'll have to insist on sticking to the original treatment plan rather than bumping up the intensity. Sometimes you’ll need to explain why they aren’t ready yet - and why it’s in their best interest to wait.

As the professional, the expert in the room, you are responsible. You are in charge. And you are obligated to make decisions based on what’s truly best for their skin - even if it’s not what they want in the moment.

The right clients will respect you for it. Some might even thank you later, when they see the results and realise you put their skin health before your own convenience.

So you have to get comfortable saying no. And you have to remember that doing so isn't selfish — it's professional, ethical, and the ultimate act of care.

2. Never stop studying.

   
   

There are many things I learned in my early years that are no longer accurate, because the information available has changed. 

This industry is constantly evolving and you cannot provide your clients with the best possible care, if you’re not up to date with the latest information and protocols. 

To be a great skin therapist, you need to commit to a lifetime of learning. It makes you a better practitioner, it ensures your clients get the best results, and honestly - it keeps you passionate and inspired.

3. The skin therapist/client relationship is a true partnership - it takes two.

A physiotherapist can't resolve an injury unless their client does the rehab.

A dentist can't keep their patients teeth healthy if the patient doesn't brush and floss at home.

And, a skin therapist can't fix acne if their client is chronically stressed, has an inflammatory diet, or doesn't use their home products consistently.

At the end of the day, what we do in clinic is only a piece of the puzzle. For some skin conditions, it's a big piece - but invariably, we also need the client to do their homework, even if that's just wearing sunscreen every day.

It's a partnership, we work together to solve the problem - whatever it is.

Building trusting relationships with your clients where you both are committed to the common goal - whether that's clearing acne, or improving pigmentation - is how you get dramatic and fantastic results for peoples skin.

In conclusion, I suppose my overarching point is this: to be a truly great skin therapist, it’s not enough to know how to perform treatments or memorise product lines.

You need to keep learning. You need strong boundaries. You need to manage expectations and build trust. You need to understand the person behind the skin - what they want, what they need, and how you can support them in getting there.

There are so many other lessons I could include - but these three are a really good place to start.