Hannah Nelson, aka @hnskinsolutions

Some career changes begin with a plan. Hannah's began with a feeling she couldn't shake at an airport.

“I had left my property development job to go travelling. I came home after a few months in South East Asia and I was dreading going back to work.”

It was in that moment she realised something needed to change.

“It just suddenly dawned on me that I shouldn’t feel that way about my job. I always wanted a career in skin after struggling with my own for so many years, and after researching, I found MSTA. It only seemed right for me that it was a place that taught you absolutely everything you needed to know.”

Taking the leap

On paper, the decision made little sense. Hannah was walking away from a well-paid, established career, with a mortgage to pay and no background in the industry. She is candid about how that felt.

“I had major doubts. I was leaving a really well-paid career behind with a mortgage to pay. But I knew it’s what I wanted, and if you want something you will make it work. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I had just gone back to work.”

The bet paid off, and then some. Having struggled with acne deep into adulthood herself, Hannah specialised precisely where she had the most personal conviction, and built HN Skin Solutions into one of the UK's most respected acne-focused clinics.

“I’ve achieved everything I could have dreamed and more! I’m fully booked 8 weeks in advance, I’m now an Acne Practitioner and I finally have control over my own skin. On a personal level, it’s actually given me a purpose. I feel like I’ve finally found my calling.”

The moment it all became real

“I realised, wow, I could actually do this full time. I was working part-time on the side while I started. It was my boyfriend who said, ‘You need to commit to this full time and you will succeed.’ I quit my part-time job the next day and have been full ever since.”

Her platform has since grown beyond the treatment room: Hannah is now the UK's sole distributor of Wish Skin, a world-leading in-clinic acne product line, and is planning to build a team within her clinic.

Hannah’s advice

“This is hard work. You have to be dedicated and disciplined. But if you’re passionate about skin, all the rest is easy! If you enjoy your job, you never work a day in your life.”

Would she recommend the course?

“The team at MSTA have allowed me to pursue a career in something I had no background knowledge on. Now I am VTCT qualified, have a full busy client base, and I’m looking at starting my own team in clinic. The support since the course has been ongoing. Without them, I would certainly feel lost in this industry.”

“Huge thank you to Kirsty and the team at MSTA. It’s much bigger than just a career. It really has changed my life!”