When Skin Breaks Out on the Fertility Journey : Holding Space as a Skin Therapist

By Alanna Douglas, Skin Freak Academy

There’s a certain silence that can settle into a treatment room when a client mentions they’re going through IVF or struggling to conceive. You might feel it too — that split-second pause between “what should I say?” and “what can I safely do?”

You’re not alone. Supporting a client through a fertility journey is one of the most emotionally complex roles we take on as skin therapists. Not because we’re expected to fix everything — but because we hold space for clients at a time when their world feels shaky, uncertain, and often out of control.

Hormones fluctuate wildly. Skin becomes reactive and unpredictable. Breakouts, inflammation, sensitivity — the surface tells a story, but it’s what’s going on beneath that skin that matters just as much.

Here’s what I want every therapist to know:

1. Clients don’t need fixing. They need holding. Sometimes the most healing part of a facial isn’t the peel or the mask — it’s the safe space you create. A moment where everything stops spinning. Where they can just be. Offering presence, stillness, and a soft landing is more powerful than we give ourselves credit for.

2. It’s okay — and necessary — to ask the hard questions.

You need to know where your client is at in their fertility journey. Are they mid-stimulation? Waiting for a transfer? Recovering from a loss? These details matter — not just for treatment safety, but for emotional connection. You won’t overstep by asking gently and professionally. You’ll deepen trust.

3. Your protocols need to adapt.

A “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t serve fertility clients. Their skin might respond completely differently week to week depending on what stage they’re in hormonally. This is where

your knowledge, intuition, and flexibility matter most. Have options. Know your why.

And be ready to pivot.

“Adapting your protocols to meet your client’s hormonal cycle isn’t optional — it’s what makes you a skin therapist, not just a technician.”

At the core, supporting clients through fertility is about not being afraid to ask the questions you need — so you can deliver not just a skin treatment, but a soul treatment. One that meets their physiological needs and honours where they’re at emotionally.

Never underestimate the power of your hands, your presence, and a truly thoughtful skin treatment. Machines are wonderful. Products are powerful. But you are the magic.

You can connect with me at @skinfreakacademy or visit www.skinfreakacademy.com.au for more support, education, and conversations that matter.

Because skin is never just skin — and our work is never just a treatment.

With love, Alanna Douglas, Skin Freak Academy