Just had to share this with all my esty sisters.  Hold onto your hats.  Last week I had a new client come in for a brow maintenance and my special clay facial.  She is in her 70's and a lovely lady.  While doing her brows, I noticed, what at first glance, appeared to be a mole on her upper left cheek, just below the eye.  So I said, "what have you got going here"?  She said, "Oh I've had that for years. I have it checked every 3 months, and the doctor doesn't seem to be worried about it, so I'm not".  I continued with her brow wax, and kept my suspicions to myself for the moment.  Then we moved to the clay treatment.  I took another look through the mag lamp at the "mole" and my suspicions were confirmed. When it came to the extraction segment of the treatment I informed her that I believed this "mole" was really a blackhead and sure enough. This thing was huge, but with a clear head and pore opening (thank god).  I was able to easily extract the 1/4" long specimen.  All the while shaking my head and muttering to myself. I can't believe this woman went to the doctor every 3 months for the last 5 years and no one knew it was a blackhead!  What the heck is going on in the medical community.  The thing did everything but hold up a flag, which it was big enough to do!  Needless to say, she was very happy to have to out of her skin.  Just another day in the life. 

Tags: black, head

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You extracted the mother of all blackheads Crickett!!! You lucky b*tch!!!!! How rewarding for you and the client. Why don't family Doctors use mag lamps? Are they not looking at body parts all day long where a magnifying lamp would occasionally come in handy?

Crickett,  Unfortunately, I have experienced this half dozen times over the last five years, the last time was today.  What her doctor thought was a mole was a blackhead sitting atop a slow festering break-out.  Extraction was simple but much exudate was released. 

My most loyal---and grateful----client is a woman who was getting ready to have a biopsy of a 'growth' on her face.  After examining it, I could see it was hardened sebum that looked almost wart-like.  A few pokes, and out came the 'growth' through the pore (again, like you, thank goodness the pore was cooperative).  That was three years ago and she still sings my praises all over town.....even to her dermatologist.  The last time she was there, he commented on how great her skin looked inquiring on what she was doing for skin care. 

But to answer your question....what the heck is going on with the medical community?  It is hard to tell if it is training, milking the system, stupidity, laziness....who knows.  But one thing is for sure:  the skin care industry should not be turned over solely to MDs.  Lack of competition from competent professionals (that's us) would be a disaster for the skin care world.

Susan Nathan, B.S. Microbiology, Licensed Esthetician

Formulator, Nutrient Skin Care

Milking the system is my response....but there again I have always been very cynical about medics in the U.S.  Sorry, but having lived in diff countries with different medics, I cannot help but stick to my cynicism! Hope you had your goggles on when you extracted that beast!!  ;)

I regret that I, too, am cynical in my assessment.....milking the system happens far too often in our system of healthcare.  Good to know you have experience with other countries delivering medical care.  We rely on you to reveal the facts from experience.

I KNOW!  It was extremely rewarding.  I jumped up, ran around my bed a couple of times then threw down my extractor in a dance of glory! :) My client was a little scared, but appreciative to have the, second head removed!  I tend to agree with the milking too, such a shame.

GOOD JOB:)  I am always so amazed by this- I always look back to when I was a teenager, and had horrible acne- instead of the Dr advising me to use GOOD products, he wrote me a prescription, and told me to use dove soap- the world needs Estheticians like us haha

Love stories like this!!... had a similar experience years ago with milia along the lash line... derm told my client it was not dangerous and it was too close to eye... it was obstructing her vision .... she cried and thanked me after I extracted in the just a few seconds.... it had been there for years... has not ever returned and she has been a faithful client for 20 years.... thank you for sharing your story... we should not be afraid to explore our knowledge

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