 never really applied to me. As much as I am grateful for the initial ground where I got the chance to grow,  there's nothing I love more than the rush of discovering unknown territory.

If there's anything I learned during these first two years as a derm resident, it's that nothing is more important than to have been employed in as many places as possible. I've always been thrilled ever since the beginning of my residency, knowing I'd be traveling from  hospital to hospital, from city to city, for the next 18 months.

My residency plan involved 6 months of working in a local hospital and private practice on almost the other side of the country, in a small city I had almost never heard of. You can imagine that, despite my neverending enthusiasm, I was a bit skeptical at first. Afterwards, I was  placed in 2 French-speaking hospitals in 2 different municipalities of our capital city for one year in total. Currently, I'm   finishing off the last 2 months  of this journey in the notorious Saint-Pierre hospital  in the heart of Brussels.     

Eighteen months, three hospitals, one private practice and a ton of memories  later, I can say that it  all turned out  well.  In fact, I couldn't look back at this period of my life with a warmer heart.  Here are 10 things I  experienced during my 

 and that I didn't want to keep from you:

. Trust me when I say that you rely on yourself, and solely yourself, if you want amazing things to happen to you. You really make or break the situation you are currently in by the mindset and behaviour you display.

. You'll  discover that you're capable of more  than you thought you were from  spending time on your own.  Getting out of your comfort zone forces you  to act -maybe it works out, maybe it won't- but in the end in one way or another, you'll always win regardless the outcome. 

. Living the 'nomadic resident' existence, helps you understand life, your true self  and your needs on a deeper emotional level. Undoubtedly confronting at some times, but there's nothing that makes you grow up more. So far I gained the most knowledge about myself and how others see me during this period in my life.

, you're going places. Being flexible in any kind of situation doens't only enhance your resilience, but the people around you will notice you're in control as well. And what you radiate, you also attract. Entirely aside,  I find that flexibility goes hand in hand with having more fun no matter the odds. 

 for other places and certain modi operandi, how trivial they initially may seem, makes you richer in a way no money ever can. You don't need to remember or know everything. As long as you stay curious, you get motivated, and so the road to happiness and success will be open.

6. Growing up and moving around, away from family or friends, comes with 

disappointments and change of perspectives.

 At one point last year, I was having a very difficult time, to an extent I had never really experienced before. It had to do with conflicts within my family and with a friend within my close circle. Although it took me a long time to process everything, until not too long ago, I am happy with how everything turned out in the end. After confronting the individuals in question and being transparent about how we each experienced the situation, I learned to set my boundaries clearly. The result, so far, is that I have a clearer understanding with them. Honesty always lasts the longest. ♥ 

so much quicker. By not being held by the hand, you dare to speak up, show who you are and ask for more. Because if you don't, don't expect anyone to do it for you.   This is how for example, I managed to get invited at an international congress, normally only reserved for derms who finished their residency, or who are at least more advanced in their formation than I am. I met so many interesting people and lived extraordinary encounters I could only dream of in the past.  

 I thought I was an open-minded person before I began residency, turns out it was  not so much the case. To be honest I didn't have the slightest clue of what life was like for some people.   The past 18 months, I came in contact with every  rank of the socio-cultural ladder: the  super rich, the very poor, people who's intelligence was equivalent to Einstein's, people gifted with practical skills, patients from all kinds of religions and countries,... I truly could go and on and on and on.   I am grateful to be someone who can easily deal with  every kind of person, being convinced of the fact that we can learn so much from one another, and I think that I grew in that perspective.

In my opinion, it is so badly underestimated how much more we could accomplish if everyone had at least basic knowledge of some other languages.  A full year's work in a French-speaking, but also multicultural hospital receiving patients from all kinds of nationalities and cultures, enabled me to improve my language skills, which I will carry with me into my professional and private life. I have always found it extremely important to be able to make yourself clear in multiple languages. When I  initially didn't get accepted for Dermatology residency in Belgium, I considered an assistantship in Germany, and went through all the necessary language tests.   Another nomad part of my life that proves you can do anything you set your mind to!  

. Gratitude for the little things that aren't obvious to everyone. Since I've been hanging in and around hospitals for years now -if not as a resident it was as a student or intern- I've always had notion of how nothing compares to good health. Now that I have been able to observe different types of hospitals and different aspects of the lives of people from all types of backgrounds with my own eyes, my appreciation for the things I'm able to do has expanded even more. 

 the existence of our differences is distinct from 

 it directly. Even though we may speak different languages and do things differently, the why of what we do is universal. Being a nomadic resident, I had the chance to see how people interact and work differently, on their own or as a team. This has taught me so much on a personal and professional level.  I am convinced that the more one sees, the better formed one becomes as a person as a whole. I am grateful that I was allowed to experience these wonderful 18 months and will keep in mind all the things I have learned to be the best possible doctor who keeps his gaze at all times not only critical, but most of all open. 

♥ Sandals:    unknown brand from  a store in Monopoli, Puglia 

10 things I learned from being a nomadic resident 

In my daily practice, I receive questions on a daily basis about what kind of sunscreen won't cause break-outs in oily skin. More even, I figured it's a specific concern bothering not only patients suffering from acne, but also non-acne patients. 

Why is sunscreen so important, especially when you have acne? 

People with oily skin often skip applying sunscreen because it makes their skin look greasy with the formation of pimples. It is however of great importance to protect yourself against the sun, since sun exposure has a big impact on the progression of acne. Here's why:

 have anti-inflammatory effects, and therefore it might seem like your acne gets better in the sun. But what UV and blue light also do, is increasing the thickness of the outer skin layer inducing a dysregulation of our skin microbiome. This may worsen the presence of closed comedones (whiteheads), causing inflammation and acne flare-ups in Fall. 

 rays cause inflammation and increase sebum production and proliferation of keratinocytes.

 can induce postinflammatory hyperpigmentation on acne skin (due to irritation, excoriations), especially in 

 Sunlight induces the production of melanin, and this is why, if unprotected, acne scars stay dark. 

Another reason why it is absolute mandatory to wear sunscreen when suffering from acne, is that several acne treatments (antibiotics, isotretinoin, vitamine A creams) make our skin more vulnerable to sunlight. 

like oxybenzone, avobenzone, retinyl palmitate or para-aminobenzoic acid. Also a high concentration of alcohol is nefast in acne-prone skin.

sunscreens based on coconut or grapeseed oil.

You’re using expired sunscreen or tend to leave it baking in the sun:

 which causes breakdown of the active substances.

How to choose the right sunscreen for oily

Some general advice regarding sunscreen for oily skin:

, which means pores won’t be easily clogged.

 while they may be non-comedogenic, tend to be chalky in consistency. Mostly, chemical sunscreen will be more suitable for oily skin.

 their protection is weaker since you only get higher SPF level using more scientific ingredients.

Mist formulas, sprays, gels of chemical sunscreens

 with a water or light liquid base are less occlusive.

 to avoid occlusive make-up layers afterwards

Don’t use sunscreen meant for your body on your face

, since these often have a much greasier texture

Anti-inflammatory, sebumregulating agents

: salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid

Plant-based, anti-inflammatory ingredients: 

 skip sunscreen if you’ve got acne-prone skin. In fact, it’s even 

 imperative that you wear sunscreen if you have pimples. Remember that sunscreen should be applied every day year-round for the best protection, even when it's cloudy or rainy.

→ In case you missed my general overview on types of sunlight and sunscreens, click 

) for a summary of all evidence-based skin care research. 

The Sacred Skin: How to pick the right sunscreen for oily skin

, a tag line you've certainly heard before. But what exactly is SPF, and does SPF alone protect you sufficiently against the sun? To be completely correct, we should use the word 

 instead of SPF. In my daily practice, I am routinely asked about what exactly to look out for when picking sun protection. But what exactly does it protect us from? What is ultraviolet radiation, blue light, and where does it come from?

The sun provides us of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and visible light, both having a significant impact on our skin.

 into UV-A, UV-B and UV-C radiation. UV-A and UV-B rays both affect our skin in a different way. UV-C does not reach the Earth's surface. 

 consists of a rather short wavelength and is the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers. Therefore, most sunscreens mainly focus on UV-B radiation. 

 consists of a longer wavelength and also contributes to skin cancer and premature aging, and has the ability to pass through glass. 

. Blue light is a colour in the visible light spectrum that can be seen by the human eye, and generally comes from TV, smartphone or laptop screens. Unlike UV rays, it can’t burn you, but it can age your skin indirectly via the formation of free radicals and therefore it can speed up the aging process and cause pigmentation. 

: Effects of UV radiation and visible light on human skin depend on pigmentation. It seems that light skin tends to be more susceptible to UV-induced skin damage, while dark skin suffers more from visible light-induced damage.

In general, there are two types of sunscreen: mineral (physical) and chemical sunscreen.

 form a protective layer on our skin, preventing UV rays from hitting it. They usually contain ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, small particles that have been recognized as safe and effective. Protection is immediate. This type of sunscreen is ideal for people with sensitive skin, with skin conditions like contactallergy, rosacea or melasma, as it tends to irritate less. Because mineral sunscreen is sometimes thick, it may contribute to breakouts in people prone to acne. The latter is a subject I'll cover in another article. 

 do allow UV rays into the skin, turning it into non-damaging wavelengths of light or heat, a process that takes place in our skin by chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. Recommendations based on the latest studies recommend avoiding chemical sunscreens with 

. This form of synthetic estrogen may disrupt hormones and cause allergic skin reactions. There is a waiting time before protection of around 20-30 minutes. Also does it harm coral reefs. An important sidenote in that matter, is that not applying sunscreen is still more harmful to you in the long run than the possible absorption of any small particles.

What is SPF and PA? What should I look for when picking sunscreen?

, meaning Sun Protection Factor, measures sunscreen protection from UV-B rays only. 

 is short for Protection Grade of UV-A, and thus only measures U-VA protection. As you now know, this is given their individual function, an important distinction!

♥ Always go for an SPF of 30 or higher (preferably, SPF50). Any sunscreen with SPF below 15 only protects against sunburn, not skin cancer or skin aging. 

♥ Choose a sunscreen with “broad spectrum” protection, this means they protect you against both UV-A and UV-B rays. 

♥ Especially important if you have dark skin: the best defence against blue light are topical antioxidants. Look for a sunscreen that’s got a high sun protection factor, promises broad spectrum protection and includes antioxidants like vitamin C and E.

Hi! My name is Ornella

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