Q+A with Nurse Practitioner and Skin Health Expert Emily Rockwell

Emily Rockwell (RN, MSN, NP-C) is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner, skin health expert, and Top 100 Aesthetic Injector in America. She is the founder of Emily Rockwell Skin Clinic in Greenville, Delaware, where Emily and her team specialize in medical-grade, results-driven skin treatments. Emily loves sharing her beauty and wellness knowledge on Instagram, where she is known for her natural injection results and comprehensive approach to skin health. Keep reading for more on Emily and her story!

Q: First and foremost, we’d love to hear about your journey in the skin health space. How did you get started, and how did you get where you are today?

My path to becoming an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner wasn’t exactly straightforward. When I was in school, my strongest subject was always science, which I attribute largely to my dad's genes and influence. He’s been a Periodontist and Implantologist for 35 years, so I grew up admiring the way he treated his patients and built his practice. I decided pretty early on that I wanted to be a nurse, I just had no idea what type of nurse I wanted to be! Honestly, that was one of the things that really drew me to this profession. I love that it's such an open-ended field with countless specialties to consider, and no matter what a nurse decides to focus on, they are always a critical player in any medical practice.

It’s funny because my original plan couldn’t be further from where I am now! When I started nursing school, I set out to become an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. I truly love the elderly and have always been passionate about enhancing their quality of life.

It was at that time that my years-long battle with severe cystic acne and TMJ pain was at its worst. I decided to enroll in a course on TMJ and the management of pain with Botox injections. I quickly became fascinated with how injectables could help manage my pain as well as provide aesthetic results. I just knew there were other people out there like me that I wanted to help, too.

From there, I opened the Emily Rockwell Skin Clinic in Greenville, Delaware with the core mission of helping our patients both therapeutically and cosmetically.

Q: You’ve said that your struggles with cystic acne led you to find your passion. Can you tell us a bit about your experiences and how they helped to shape your perspective on skin health and feeling comfortable in your own skin?

I know firsthand that living with cystic acne and acne scarring is such a tumultuous and deeply emotional experience. It took years of trying different products and treatments before I understood how to manage my acne. When a patient comes to me with acne or any other condition that’s been troubling them for a while, I see my former self reflected back to me. I can feel the weight of their journey and I understand that they likely struggled a lot before coming to the Skin Clinic. My goal, and the goal of everyone on my team, is to always treat the patient and not just the condition.

Q: What do you love the most about what you do, and what do you find the most rewarding about the work you do?

Without a doubt, my favorite thing is how our patient relationships often become long-term relationships. Our skin is ALWAYS evolving and requiring different things, so seeing patients for regular follow-ups is a huge piece of our approach. It brings me so much joy to see my patients regularly and follow along on their life journey — a lot of times we get to see them start new jobs, possibly have kids, get married, make big life decisions etc. I love that we’re in it for the long haul and wherever they are in life, we’re helping them achieve skin health.

Q: What — and who! — inspires you on a daily basis?

First off, my dad! All my life I’ve been in awe of his work ethic and his dedication to continued learning. He’s had his practice for over three decades and he still comes home after a long day and cracks open a book or medical journal to learn more. I had the chance to work alongside him before opening my practice, and one thing I definitely took from him was the way he educates his patients in a consultation.

Secondly, Dr. Zein Obagi inspires me daily. Much of my skin health philosophies are based on his teachings. In 2017, my mom gifted me his book, “The Art of Skin Health” and I still refer to it every single day. I had the chance to train with him shortly after opening my practice and it was astonishing to see how he cured people’s conditions. His product line, ZO Skin Health, is what we treat with and carry exclusively at the Skin Clinic.

As for what inspires me? Art in all its forms is such a huge influence for me. I especially love interior design and architecture — I’m always struck by balance, symmetry, proportion, and unique features. Makes a lot of sense as it all correlates back to what I strive for with my patients.

You’re the founder of Emily Rockwell Skin Clinic in Greenville, DE. We’d love to hear a bit about the treatments you perform in-clinic and about the relationship you have with your patients.

I’m so proud to offer a comprehensive menu of treatments here at the Skin Clinic. We’re best known for creating customized medical-grade skincare regimens and for my technique with injectables (Botox and dermal fillers). Additionally, we offer laser treatments, microneedling, PRP injections, peels, medical-grade facials, and B12 injections.

Every patient relationship begins with a total skin health consultation. This is where we do a full skin assessment and create a recommended treatment plan based on the patient’s personal goals, lifestyle, and skin needs. We lay out and explore all the options that make sense for the patient.

Q: What is one mistake you often see folks making in terms of skincare or products specifically?

Love this question and I have two answers! First mistake is self-diagnosing. It’s best to rely on a professional to diagnose your skin type and make recommendations. I can’t tell you how many patients I’ve treated that thought they had one type of skin their whole lives, only for me to tell them the opposite. For instance, a lot of people think they have dry or sensitive skin, but really their skin barrier just needs to be strengthened for us to discover their true skin type!

The other mistake is not pushing through a new skincare regimen and changing course when things get hard or results aren’t immediate. Our skin cell cycle is about six weeks long, meaning it takes six weeks for the old skin to slough off, and the new, healthy skin to replace it. To see a change, you really have to commit to at least six weeks.

Q: What is one product everyone should be using, no matter what their skin type?

Anyone that knows me knows I’m hyper-passionate about exfoliation. I believe in daily exfoliating with high-quality products. Proper exfoliation is oftentimes the missing key in achieving healthy, radiant skin. Exfoliation is so important because it removes dead skin cells, allowing for better product penetration and the reversal of dull skin.

Q: What is your best advice for someone who is struggling to find a skin routine that works for them?

If you don’t love your skincare routine and would like to begin a brand new one, I would see a skin expert that can assess your skin and build a whole new regimen for you.

If the problem is that you’re just not getting results with your regimen, you’ll add in one product and stick with it for at least six weeks to see if it benefits you. Again, if you aren’t on a quality exfoliating product I would start by adding that. It’s amazing what it can do to help all your other products work harder!

If you are already on a robust regimen and you’re experiencing any type of reaction, I would recommend an “elimination diet” if you will. Eliminate one product every week to see if its absence makes a difference. If you stop too many products at the same time, you’ll have no idea where the problem lies. It’s a lot like with food intolerances — you have to be methodical in pinpointing the problem.

Q: What do you wish people were talking more about in skincare?

Consistency! Listen, I’m just like everyone else and I love trying new beauty products, but when it comes to skincare I firmly believe consistency is what counts. The urge to constantly buy the latest holy grail product is probably not going to deliver the results you're after. Have all the fun in the world with lip colors, hair products, bronzers etc, but skip the desire to experiment when it comes to your skincare.

Rapid Fire Round

Q: Worth the splurge:

Firming Serum from ZO Skin Health.

Q: Favorite drugstore or budget find:

Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Pure Castile Liquid Soap.

Q: Latest beauty empty:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

Q: Recent discovery:

REFY Brow Pomade + REFY Brow Sculpt.

Q: Product you can’t leave home without:

KEVIN.MURPHY Fresh.Hair.

Q: Brand you wish more people knew about:

ZO Skin Health.

For more of Emily's favorite products, check out her shop below: