Do I Practice Corneotherapy? Let’s Talk About It.
One of the questions I often get asked is whether I’m a corneotherapist. Because I’m both a naturopath and a skin therapist, many people assume that’s the way I practice. And in some ways, they’re not wrong as a lot of the principles of corneotherapy are very much in line with my own approach when treating skin.
Its core idea is simple but powerful — if we restore and protect the skin barrier, the skin can return to balance and function at its best.
I’ve seen this play out time and time again in my clinic. When the barrier is functioning at its best irritation calms, hydration returns, and skin becomes more resilient. For me, corneotherapy has been an invaluable framework for understanding how skin truly works.
But I don’t take a rigid approach. My philosophy is that skin health should never be a one-size-fits-all journey. Every person’s skin is unique, and sometimes that means drawing from a wider toolkit.
What Corneotherapy Means to Me
Corneotherapy is grounded in science. It recognises that the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin, often dismissed as “dead”) is in fact a biologically active, protective tissue. If we damage or strip it away through harsh products or over-exfoliation, skin is left vulnerable to dehydration, inflammation, breakouts, redness, and accelerated ageing.
The solution is to support and repair the barrier first, allowing skin to self-regulate and restore balance. This philosophy sits at the heart of everything I do.
Where My Beliefs Expand Beyond Corneotherapy
While I value corneotherapy immensely, I also recognise that skin care has evolved. Acids and exfoliation have been part of treatment for decades, and today’s ingredient technologies are far more advanced and gentler than they have been in previous decades. That is thanks to science.
I believe these tools do have their place when used thoughtfully, at the right time, and in the right way.
Here’s how I integrate them into practice:
Only when the barrier is ready: I will never introduce exfoliation if the skin is impaired. Repair always comes first.
Gentle, not harsh: I favour formulations that are biomimetic or barrier-friendly, avoiding unnecessary trauma to the skin.
Individualised decisions: I assess each client’s skin health, lifestyle, and history before deciding whether exfoliation will be beneficial. In many cases its simply not necessary.
Always reassessing: Skin changes over time. A method that works beautifully today may need adapting down the track.
Its about blending it with the latest, evidence-based methods in a way that respects each skin’s unique needs.
A rigid approach doesn’t allow enough flexibility for the diverse needs of the people I treat. My clients aren’t “textbook cases.” They’re real people with complex skin stories, from acne and rosacea to sensitivity, ageing concerns and underlying autoimmune challenges. Sometimes their skin thrives with strict barrier repair. Other times, it responds best to a gentle acid peel once the barrier is well supported.
At the end of the day, my philosophy is simple:
Repair first. Respect always. Refine only when the skin is ready.
As a practioner specialising in inner and outer skin health, my role is to listen to the skin in front of me, apply critical thinking, and create individualised treatment pathways that support long-term results.
It’s about balance, adaptability, and above all respecting the uniqueness of each skin.
