Becoming a True Skin Expert: The Power of Learning

By Maria Rylott-Byrd

The skin industry never stands still and neither should we.

Whether you’ve been working with skin for two years or twenty, there’s one truth that we should all be mindful of; learning never ends! Ours is a dynamic profession, the science and research is ever evolving. Client expectations are rising and what we were taught (however many years ago) may well have become outdated. In this kind of landscape, staying current isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity, a professional duty even!

As someone who has moved from beauty therapist to skin therapist and, ultimately, to corneotherapist, I have, at every stage of my career, had to evolve and deepen my understanding. To me, it’s what keeps our work meaningful and what enables us to truly help the skin in front of us.

The Epidermis

The Skin You Think You Know

Let’s be honest. The foundational knowledge most of us received in terms of skin science was a tick-box exercise. It was sadly labelled the ‘boring’ part. We weren’t taught to link all the theory together to create a 3D picture of skin function and we certainly weren’t taught how to interpret any of it.

Neither has this been improved upon in the extended learning arena. Here, we mostly see brand-centric training, that involves crafted protocols, tending to focus on the features and benefits of each product. I’m not brand bashing, but we need to remember that brands are in the business of selling product. As true experts, we should be thinking for ourselves. Not about which product or protocol from a range the skin most aligns with, but how we can achieve homeostasis inside and out for the unique skin in front of us.

This can only be driven by a functional understanding of how skin works. Not marketing, not pseudo-science, just facts!

The skin’s processes aren’t just semantics, they’re crucial to our insight. And without grasping the full picture, we risk making decisions based purely on guesswork.

The Integumentary System

Protocols Don’t Replace Thinking

I understand protocols can offer consistency and for certain treatments they are essential, but it’s also easy to hide behind them. The best skin outcomes don’t come from following a script, they come from understanding what the skin in front of you is trying to tell you and acting accordingly.

The continual expansion and reinforcement of knowledge, particularly in the skin science, allows you to think critically. The skin is communicating. The symptoms are the clues, but can you go beyond those symptoms to understand why the skin is performing the way it is? Can you establish the root cause?

Of course, nobody knows it all, but it’s dangerous to assume our learning is ever complete. Primarily because it isn’t, there is always more to know.

The biggest breakthroughs in my own career didn’t come from mastering new techniques. They came from finding answers to the questions I couldn’t answer. It’s this curiosity that moves us from treating skin as a one-dimensional entity to understanding it as an organ.

The how is immaterial if you don’t understand the why. Without knowing the why, how can you be sure your decision is justified for that skin?

This is where skin therapy comes alive. It’s what empowers you as a true skin expert, builds trust with your clients and, ultimately, serves the health of the unique skin in front of you.

Keep Learning!

 Maria Rylott-Byrd aka The Corneotherapy Consultant™ is the creator of Epidermal Skin Health – A Corneotherapist’s Essential Guide, a comprehensive skin science-led course designed to deepen understanding and elevate professional expertise.