Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Carroll.
Courtney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After my mom had breast cancer in 2011, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in life, but I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare. I didn’t do a traditional college route like most teens; I ended up skipping college to wait tables. While it was nice having more spending money, I knew it wasn’t a career. I explored some options and ultimately decided to get my associate’s degree in health science. In turn, I obtained my medical assisting certification.
I didn’t know what specialty I would end up in (I originally planned on pediatrics since I love kids). I was placed at a dermatology office for my externship, though I knew absolutely nothing about it. We briefly touched on eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancer in school, but I soon found out that dermatology was so much more than that.
Six weeks passed by and I finished my externship. I was offered a job as a medical assistant for a newer practice in Raleigh. It was all new and exciting and I felt like my life had direction.
About a year into working, I did my first chemical peel on a patient. I became obsessed with skin care and obsessed with helping people feel their best. As someone who struggled with terrible acne in high school, it felt so great to finally clear my acne and eventually help others clear their own skin concerns. I decided to go back to school to get my esthetic license.
That year was the second hardest year of my life (obviously my mom having cancer took the #1 spot). I changed jobs to a different dermatology practice, went through a traumatic near-death experience, and moved all while spending 5 hours each night in class. When I finally completed my 600 hours, I knew I could do anything and get through anything.
Now I work for a dermatology & aesthetic center in Cary. I get excited to go to work every morning and feel truly knowledgeable about my craft. I get to help people look and feel their best, but more than that, I get to connect to my patients on a truly personal level. In my treatment room, we talk about everything from what they did over the weekend to how their chemo treatments are going. We talk about how hard it is to be a new mom, or how the dating world seems hopeless. It’s more than just a treatment; it’s a safe place to feel seen and heard and understood.
I never thought I would help people in the form of a facial, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to be able to laugh, cry, and scream with some of the most amazing people in the triangle. To be able to connect to people is so important, especially in a society that has really distanced itself from relying on community and asking for help when it’s needed. It’s so much more than skin care to me and I’m grateful everyday that my path has led me here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. Usually the best things in life are not ever the easiest.
After I enrolled in esthetician classes, I went through a traumatic breakup that really altered how I lived my life. I was living alone and didn’t sleep most nights out of fear and PTSD. I was working Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, then going to class from 5pm to 10pm. I had just started a new job at a different dermatology office, after my previous practice did not want to increase my pay (I had worked there for almost 3 years with no pay raise). I also moved to a new apartment in Durham that was quite dilapidated to say the least. It was a miserable year and to be honest I’m not sure how I pushed through. Would it be absurd if I said I did it for my cats? 🙂
Financially, mentally, and physically, it took a huge toll on me. I just kept focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel and hoped it would be worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a medical esthetician who specializes in chemical peels, microneedling, lasers, and skin care. I’m known for being less holistic and more treatment targeted. I’m most proud of how much work I’ve put into learning different devices and procedures. What sets me apart from other estheticians is my background in medical dermatology. It allows me to know how different medications they are on may affect their treatments. I have also caught multiple skin cancers on patients and referred them to my dermatologist who was able to treat them. I think it’s so important to go to someone knowledgeable when getting these procedures done, because there is so much more involved than slapping a serum on someone’s face, or pulsing a laser, etc. These devices and procedures are intricate and can go wrong very easily, thus leading to consequences that could alter someone’s appearance for the rest of their life.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My mom is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. She has shown up for me every step of the way and has encouraged me to be my best, most authentic self. She has been my guinea pig many, many times when I needed to try out a new laser or new chemical peel. She comments, likes, and shares every post I make, as well as the ones the business makes. She’ll hand out business cards to strangers and recommend they come to see me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.noorderm.com
- Instagram: @court.aesthetics
