Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Gronich.
Danielle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Two words: Skin Obsessed! As a young person, I was in the same boat everyone else when it came to my teenage skin; bumps would come and go, I would try the trendy little “at-home” remedies to make them disappear (some worked, most didn’t!). Being a tomboy and an athlete I had little concern for girly things like makeup but I had to learn how to use it because my skin was regularly problematic all through High School. Then came college and everything took a hard turn for the worse. Being away from home and entering a world of keggers. Late-night study cramming. Cheap dorm food and Top Ramen, my skin went absolutely haywire. It seemed like overnight I became covered in angry, cystic, painful acne on my face, chest, back, and body. Hell I would even break out on my scalp from shampoos, it was inescapable. I had no idea how to handle it. Doctors prescribed birth control as they often do, but my Dermatologist didn’t understand the link between androgenic (male) hormones and acne- and so he accidentally put me on a birth control that made the breakouts 5 times more severe. Antibiotics were then prescribed along with all sorts of intense topical creams like Retin-A, all of which burned and scarred my skin and none helped the actual acne. When typical Rxs like antibiotics stop working, they go for Accutane. I did this terrible drug twice and it didn’t work on me, but permanently damaged my vision after the second round. Fast forward a few more years of frustration and I became obsessed with figuring this disease out- I had studied advanced Biology and Genetics in college and applied that knowledge base to this common skin condition; I was shocked to see just how little modern Dermatologists know (they don’t even study nutrition in med school), and I was equally surprised at the substantial & widespread lack of understanding about acne triggering (“comedogenic”) ingredients in skincare.
After a good chunk of time in the corporate world learning how to run a business, I founded SD Acne Clinic and have cleared about 800 people so far (the business has been open 2 years!). Every single person has seen improvement, learned more about their skin’s behavior than they ever thought possible, and now those folks are in the position to help their friends and relatives avoid making the same mistakes they made. It’s truly satisfying work and I absolutely love the people that have been brought into my orbit. After launching my own potent Anti-Acne Stem Cell serum called “CLEARstem”, I partnered with a wonderful client-turned-friend, Kayleigh Clark. She too was at her wit’s end with her skin and was trying to get clear before her wedding- we did, and she has used her blog and marketing expertise to bring skincare truths to her thousands of followers. In just 2 years this clinic has changed the game and we hope to keep revolutionizing this part of the skincare world one smile at a time!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a smooth, fast road since opening the clinic! I am truly grateful for my excellent staff! Christina Silva is my lead specialist and she has about 6 years’ experience (triple my own, that’s why I hired her!) Christina is a rock star when it comes to skin and she is loved by her clients as well. After about 14 months in my first location on Fay Ave I moved to a bigger office on Girard and my clients love it; have some tea at the Pannikin and cruise on over for a fun, corrective facial with specialists who get to really know you and make it their goal to teach you everything you need to know about your own unique skin!
Because we value customer service so deeply we have had a smooth road to growth. Looking forward to expanding more into the coming months also!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about San Diego Acne Clinic – what should we know?
Acne specialists with focus on whole-body wellness. Our skin in our largest organ and it had a ton of work to do each and every day. Western lifestyle is heavy on stress, whether it’s from all the toxins in our foods, to the daily traffic jams to and from work, or the bombardment of poor information with regards to health. We take the time to go through diet, nutrition tips, personalized skincare health regimen, exercise advice, and even help our patients identify which vitamins are working for or against their skin. Did you know that an excess of Vitamin D can trigger cystic breakouts on a woman’s chin? Or that Whey protein can spur a whole-body breakout on a teenage boy? This is the type of specialized detail we dive into at this clinic, it’s far from the usual “spa” experience!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Knowledge base and desire to learn. And yes, the need to be the best. Healthy competition serves our clients well! We also provide near-concierge level service to our new clients as they learn the ropes and make the key changes at home that we discussed in their in-office visits.
Pricing:
- Initial Skin & Product Evaluation + 1st Treatment ($169)
- Ongoing Acne-Facial (with Extractions) ($79)
Contact Info:
- Address: 7440 Girard Ave #9
La Jolla, CA 92037 - Website: www.sdacneclinic.com & www.clearstemskincare.com
- Phone: 858-381-0740
- Email: sdacneclinic@gmail.com
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
