Becoming a Dermatologist by Elyse

Becoming a Dermatologist by Elyse - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

As a young girl, I have always been fascinated with skincare. During quarantine, my
fascination grew because I was able to research and experiment freely. I found it so interesting to
see how things worked and how my skin would react to certain chemicals. I loved looking at
ingredient lists and seeing all the things products were made of. I learned from dermatologists
and estheticians I had researched about what I should look for in products and ingredients that
are harmful. I educated myself and slowly started to understand the complex world of skincare
and the toxic environment of tricky brand marketing. As I learned more and more my friends and
mom’s friends would come to me with questions asking how to fix imperfections they had with
their skin. I would spend hours researching and curating an effective skincare routine to help
them target their skincare goals. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this and decided it was something I
wanted to make a career out of.
As I learned more, I noticed a large number of my classmates were put on Accutane by
their dermatologists. So I decided to do some research. Isotretinoin, more commonly referred to
as Accutane, is a medication prescribed by dermatologists to help clear acne. I had never been
prescribed Accutane before so I decided to look into the pros and cons of Accutane. I was blown
away by how many dangerous side effects Accutane had for how popular it is prescribed. Side
effects included: trouble seeing at night, dry skin, birth defects, miscarriage, liver damage,
depression, and suicidal thoughts. One night, I was speaking to a friend of mine’s mom about
how I wanted to become a dermatologist, and the very first thing she said to me was that when I
became one I should never immediately prescribe someone with Accutane. My friend's mom
works for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, so I felt confident in sharing information with her
because she was knowledgeable about pharmaceutical drugs. She said she felt uncomfortable
with how quickly dermatologists are prescribing it instead of truly trying to find products to help
fight acne. I agreed with her completely. Side effects from Accutane can be as little as dry skin to
as big as major birth defects from even one dosage of Accutane. I plan to challenge this
conventional wisdom when I become a dermatologist. I want to challenge myself to find other
products that can give the same benefits but have fewer risks. I believe that everyone’s skin is
beautiful and no one should have to compromise their optimal health to be happy with their skin.
They should be confident in what products and medications they let their body be exposed to,
and Accutane should be no exception.
Choosing to become a part of this industry is something I am so passionate about. I want
to be able to give people confidence in their skin and themselves. This confidence has the
potential to radiate to every aspect of their lives. One small appointment to the dermatologist can
change the way they view and hold themselves forever and that is so powerful!