IN PROFILE: Emer McGillion
POSITION: Aesthetic Skincare Specialist

How did you end up specialising in aesthetic skincare?
Well, when I was 17 I got a bad case of psoriasis. My whole body was covered with these red patches of itchy, scaly skin. In the end, the treatment was quite simple – UV light. Sun light slows back down the replacement of skin cells.
I did a lot of reading about skin at the time, though, and I got really interested in skin problems from a medical perspective. So I continued my studies, specialising in Aesthetic Skincare.

And now you’re Dundrum Clinic’s newest recruit...
Yep. I’d heard a lot about Dundrum and, as it turned out, they were looking to expand their skin treatments, so they wanted an aesthetic skincare specialist. I had worked in other aesthetic and medical cosmetic practices, but I kept hearing about Dundrum Medical Cosmetic Clinic. From what I was hearing, they were making their name as the best in Dublin, so the decision to join was an easy one for me.

The dreaded lines and wrinkles must keep you busy.
As well as problem skins, we see quite a lot of people coming in who have great skin. They understand that prevention is better than cure, and one of the simplest ways to leave the skin rejuvenated and feeling softer is a facial resurfacing peel.

You’re saying the aftercare products are as important as the treatments, then.
Sure, customers lose faith if they’re recommended things that simply aren’t effective.
One of the best anti-aging products is sun protection cream, because the number one reason our skin ages is sun damage. I know, that seems like a mad statement in our sun-starved country, but even here it’s true!

Do you get many men looking for treatments?
Certainly. Rosacea is quite a common problem among fair-skinned men, especially those who are outdoors a lot – people like farmers, even golfers. Obviously the red inflammation can look quite nasty but, like so much of what I do, it’s not an issue of vanity, it’s about self-esteem.
Vascular laser treatments are very effective at returning the skin to its normal look.

For me a good day’s work is when the client can see noticeable results and actually feel better about themselves.

There can be a lot of stigma surrounding some skin conditions. You must have had clients quite desperate for help.
Aggressive acne can be especially debilitating, and we have every age, from really young teens right through to adults, coming through the doors.
I know from personal experience that the older you get, the more embarrassing the condition becomes.
I had cystic acne when I was 20. It came totally out of the blue and I was left traumatised.
I stayed indoors for three months because I felt too bad about how I looked to leave the house!
If you want to be taken seriously at work, the last thing you want is acne. People think of it as something just youngsters get. But surprisingly, the average age for acne is 26.
Fortunately, in my case, I was treated by a regimen of peels and laser treatment, and wasn’t left with any scars. That’s why I believe so much in what I do.

And you’ve overcome that fear of the outdoors.
Yeah, in a big way. A few years ago a friend said she was going over to Canada for a couple months and asked if I wanted to go along with her.
I’d never even heard of Whistler before, let alone done any snowboarding but the whole outdoors lifestyle thing blew me away and I ended up staying the year.
Now travel’s a big passion and I’d love to explore Australia and South America. Anywhere that’s hot and sunny really.
Then again, maybe I should stick to the snowboarding. It’s probably better for my skin…