Melissa Johnson

Melissa is an Independent Nurse Prescriber with a background in nursing and a passion for skin health and aesthetics. She qualified as a nurse in 2013 and began her career in district nursing, before progressing to the role of Lead Practice Nurse, where she worked for three and a half years and gained her Nurse Independent Prescriber qualification. 

Driven by her passion for aesthetics and skin health, Melissa made the decision to leave the NHS and pursue her interest in the aesthetics industry, joining Face the Future Clinic, where she has worked as an Independent Nurse Prescriber for the past five years. 

Melissa is a member CMAC registered (complications in medical aesthetic collaborative), and is Save Face accredited, reflecting its commitment to high standards of patient safety and care. Melissa shares this commitment, promoting evidence-based practice and natural, subtle enhancements tailored to each individual. 

Passionate about continued professional development, Melissa keeps up to date with the latest treatments, techniques and developments within the aesthetics industry to ensure her patients receive safe, informed and effective care.

Clinic

Why you wanted to be a part of Face the Future's Dermatology panel?

Having worked at Face the Future for the past five years as an Independent Nurse Prescriber, I’m really excited to be part of the Dermatology Expert Panel. Skin health has always been a passion of mine, and I love helping people feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin. 

I believe good skin health starts with understanding your skin, knowing how to care for it and having access to advice you can trust. I’m looking forward to sharing my clinical experience, learning from other experts and helping to make reliable, evidence-based skin health advice more accessible to everyone. 

I feel this initiative is so important because there is a lot of information out there, and it can be difficult to know what to trust. I hope to help cut through the confusion, promote patient safety and empower people to make informed decisions about their skin with confidence. 

December can mean disrupted routines, more socialising, less sleep and higher stress levels. Which of these tends to have the greatest impact on our skin?

I would say stress and lack of sleep can have a particularly noticeable impact, especially when combined. Both can influence inflammation and skin barrier function, potentially making existing concerns more noticeable. During the festive period, I always encourage keeping skincare simple and consistent, prioritising rest and making time for a little self-care. 

Why do some people experience a flare in conditions such as acne, eczema or rosacea during periods of emotional stress?

Stress can influence hormones, inflammation, oil production and skin barrier function, which may aggravate existing conditions such as acne, eczema and rosacea. It's a good reminder of how closely our skin and overall wellbeing are connected. 

Can worrying about the appearance of our skin create a cycle where stress then makes the skin concern worse? 

Absolutely. Skin concerns can affect our confidence and emotional wellbeing, which may increase stress and potentially aggravate existing skin conditions, creating a frustrating cycle. It's important to look beyond the visible symptoms and consider how a skin concern is affecting someone both physically and emotionally. 

What would be your advice to someone whose skin is affecting their confidence during a very social time of year? 

Firstly, be kind to yourself. I would avoid introducing lots of new products or trying aggressive treatments just before an event, and instead focus on supporting your skin barrier with a gentle, consistent routine. Healthy skin isn't about perfection, and nobody should feel they have to achieve flawless skin to feel confident. 
Danielle Amos X R+Co Masterclass

About the Skin Health Alliance

We're the Skin Health Alliance: the world's leading independent skin health accreditation body. You may have seen our logo on some of your favourite skin and personal care products, which means they have been dermatologically approved by us for meeting our high standards of skin safety and efficacy. 

Alongside our product accreditation, we also work with dermatologists, scientists and industry leaders to advance skin health education, support skin disease research, and build everyone's skin confidence.