Women In Wellness: Dr Annie Gonzalez On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
I believe that mental health is of uttermost importance for overall health. Many medical conditions like cold sores can be triggered by stress. Being able to maintain a positive mental state allows you to cope with stressful situations, work productively and have meaningful connections with peers and family.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Annie Gonzalez.
Dr. Gonzalez is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in general and cosmetic dermatology and is experienced in treating patients with various skin disorders. Dr. Gonzalez practices in Miami, Florida and is a highly sought-after dermatologist in the region.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
I was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States at the age of 10. It was a challenging transition but one that shaped the rest of my life for the better. I was full of dreams and aspirations and finally had a chance to make them come true through my own efforts, dedication, and perseverance.
I discovered that I wanted to become a dermatologist because growing up I felt passionate about science and art. I was also inspired by my mother who is a physician and spoke about her days at the dinner table. I received my undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry and obtained my medical degree in Puerto Rico, where I was ranked #1 in my class. It was no surprise that I chose dermatology since it allows me to enjoy its medical aspects, as well as the creative side when treating my cosmetic patients. Today, I specialize in general and cosmetic dermatology at Bowes Dermatology and treat patients with various skin disorders and am also a member of renowned professional organizations. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, trying out new cosmeceutical grade products, living a healthy lifestyle and going to the gym.
Currently, I am excited to be partnering with Abreva on a new initiative called #StopBullyingYourself. Together we are urging cold sore sufferers to pledge to be kinder to themselves, especially during an outbreak. There are many misconceptions about cold sores and, in addition to the physical impacts of the condition, there is a significant emotional toll it takes on those who experience them. Through #StopBullyingYourself we hope to dispel cold sore myths and encourage confidence and self-acceptance among cold sore sufferers.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
About two years after I started practicing dermatology, I saw an older patient who had traveled from Colombia to be seen for a full body skin exam. He had never been seen by a dermatologist and his son was concerned about a new lesion on his father’s scalp. During this visit I examined the extremely pigmented and large lesion on the gentleman’s scalp and decided to biopsy. When the biopsy resulted in a melanoma diagnosis, I contacted patient and advised him of the results. He underwent surgery but unfortunately passed away since the melanoma was too far gone and had metastasized to other organs. I advise patients to return annually for full body skin exams and if they have a history of any type of skin cancer or abnormal moles, I recommend being seen every 6 months. Most skin cancers can be detected and treated at an early stage to avoid fatalities.
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The biggest mistake I made when I first started was managing my finances after transitioning from my residency program to being employed by a private practice. If I could do it all over again, I would hire a financial advisor not only to review my employment contract but to also help me manage paying off student loans and saving for retirement at an early age. If I would have done this early on, then I would have more of a balance on my short-term and long-term goals.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
As I mentioned, I’m excited to partner with Abreva in their mission to eliminate cold sore stigma and encourage those who suffer to treat themselves with more kindness. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous stigma associated with cold sores that make people feel embarrassed and self-conscious when they have an outbreak. In fact, new research from Abreva discovered that 53% of people are uncomfortable even admitting that they get cold sores, afraid of others’ misconceptions about the source of cold sores and how they are transmitted.
I see many patients for this condition and many of them are self-conscious about these flare ups. I advise them that triggers may include stress, cold weather or hormonal changes. I always tell my patients that stress induced conditions like cold sores don’t necessarily have to come from a negative stressor, it could be a positive one such as starting a new job, buying a home, having a child, as well as many others. This is important for my patients to hear for them to assimilate the situation.
That is why the #StopBullyingYourself initiative Abreva launched is so important. We are working to help others understand the emotional impact of cold sores by spreading greater awareness about the condition and encouraging empathy for sufferers.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
Self-confidence and accepting imperfections can help a person’s wellbeing. It is important for cold sore sufferers to know that it is a common condition, and transmission can happen from something as simple as sharing utensils.
Applying sunscreen daily can prevent skin cancers, sun damage and the early onset of wrinkles and fine lines. Wear your SPF!
Physical activity helps regulate hormones and prevents free-radical damage, boosts immunity, and improves quality of the skin.
Applying a retinoic acid nightly improves the appearance of pores and textural changes of the skin. It is a holy grail for anti-aging purposes since it also reduces the appearance of fine lines, helps with sun damage, and brightens dull skin.
Acknowledging when you are anxious and stressed is important! Being aware can help you begin to manage stress or anxiety by exercising, writing down your feelings, or finding a hobby that clears your mind and makes you happy.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Abreva’s #StopBullyingYourself is an initiative I am truly proud to be a part of. Over half of American adults suffer from cold sores — that’s a lot of people dealing not just with the physical impact of the condition, but the emotional one as well. But of course, wellness is important for non-sufferers as well. Abreva is also pledging a $25,000 donation to Born This Way Foundation to support the mental health of young people. Both Abreva and Born This Way Foundation are committed to spreading kindness, promoting acceptance, and building a kinder and braver world.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1: Keep a well-planned schedule to help balance work and personal life.
2: Prioritizing personal time is important for your well-being and personal health.
3: Asking for help is not a sign of weakness because you’ll learn tips and tricks in the process.
4: Don’t get caught up in negativity because self-confidence and your mental health is important.
5: Maintain a relationship with colleagues because they can provide insight and another perspective to issues you may have.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
I believe that mental health is of uttermost importance for overall health. Many medical conditions like cold sores can be triggered by stress. Being able to maintain a positive mental state allows you to cope with stressful situations, work productively and have meaningful connections with peers and family.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
You can find me at @dr.g_derm on Instagram.
Also, follow @AbrevaBrand for more information on how you can be kinder to yourself and tougher on your cold sores. To join the pledge, sufferers can share their own story on Instagram Stories using #StopBullyingYourself and tagging @AbrevaBrand.
Go to Abreva.com to learn more!
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Dr Annie Gonzalez On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.