With the Woman Wednesday series, CatMax Photography introduces you to exceptional female entrepreneurs who have gone through the CatMax Personal Branding Experience.

Today, we invite you to meet Dr. Corinne Erickson, a pioneering dermatologist and leader of Georgia Skin Specialists, who’s redefining what it means to care for skin from the inside out. As one of the only dermatologists in Georgia to complete the Integrative Dermatology Fellowship, Dr. Erickson combines over 14 years of clinical expertise with a whole-body approach to treating skin and hair conditions—especially those rooted in hormonal imbalances like hair loss, rosacea, and acne. She brings deep knowledge, innovation, and personalized care to her thriving practice, empowering women to feel confident in their skin through science, lifestyle, and sustainable skincare strategies.

Why did you decide to become a dermatologist?

Dr. Corinne Erickson, dermatologist and leader of Georgia Skin Specialists
Photo Credit: CatMax Photography

I knew early on I wanted to be a physician, probably as early as age 4 when my dad dressed me up as a doctor for Halloween with his stethoscope and medical bag. I didn’t decide until medical school, after rotating through my core areas, that dermatology was the right fit. I have a very creative brain, having majored in literature and fiction writing at Stanford. I am also very science-oriented, and as a type 1 diabetic, have grown up acutely aware of the medical complexities of being human. Dermatology uniquely offered the balance my creative, scientific brain required. Aesthetic dermatology is an obvious creative outlet that I love, but my background in writing also gives me a deeper appreciation for my patients’ stories and circumstances that contribute to the skin ailments that ultimately lead them to seek my care.

Georgia Skin Specialists uses an integrative approach to medical and aesthetic skin care. Can you share some examples of how you and your team combine traditional treatments/methods with complementary therapies to help patients?

I have completed training in integrative dermatology, a relatively new field that integrates nutrition science, mindfulness, functional medicine, and Eastern medical practices with traditional Western medicine. I take an integrative approach with all patients who are open to thinking beyond the power of a prescription pad and looking at lifestyle as it relates to their concerns. Acne patients do very well with an integrative approach, as I am able to use clinically backed supplements, dietary recommendations, hormone assessments, and stress reduction strategies to help get their skin and overall health in better balance. Hair loss patients need an integrative dermatologist to literally get to the root cause of their issue. I find that combining assessments for vitamin insufficiency/deficiency, hormone irregularities, nutrition status, and stress level, I can formulate a plan that results in more hair and greater well-being.

Would you mind telling us a little about your own experience with functional medicine?

When I turned 42, I started feeling pretty lousy. I was running a medical practice, had two young kids, wasn’t sleeping well, and was having constant IBS symptoms. My thyroid was ‘normal,’ as was everything else in my bloodwork ordered by my endocrinologist. My type 1 diabetes was well-controlled. I went in for a functional medicine evaluation specifically to see if I had dietary sensitivities to gluten or dairy that would not show up in the traditional celiac panel (mine was negative). My functional medicine provider also tested hormone levels through a blood test on a very specific day of my cycle due to my sleep-onset insomnia.

Thankfully, the only test that came back abnormal was a progesterone measure. Mine was low, likely because I was using so much of my progesterone building blocks to produce cortisol, the stress hormone. I knew I was stressed, but I had been running at a wired and tired pace for so long I stopped feeling it. I was experiencing stress like you experience perfume in the fragrance section of Bloomingdale’s. After being immersed in it long enough, you no longer smell anything specific. It’s just your new perception of the air you breathe. It took a few years and several different lifestyle modifications, but I now fall asleep soundly and naturally, and the IBS symptoms have resolved. If a provider had just said, ‘you’re stressed and that’s your problem,’ I would not have been motivated to make some pretty significant changes in my life over the past 3 years.

What is the team at Georgia Skin Specialists like?

We are a very collaborative, compassionate, and empathetic group of women. While each provider has a unique style, every one of us is approachable, authentic, and an expert in the field of dermatology. Most of our team members are moms, and we share that experience and all of its joys and challenges with each other. We value a positive, supportive, and inclusive culture in our office, just as we all do in our personal lives.

You took over the practice in 2022, when the founder decided to retire. What has it been like to go from provider to both provider and business owner?

That may be why I needed functional medicine help in 2022! It’s been hard, but it’s been worth it. I surrounded myself early on with mentors and advisors to help me with the business side of medicine, and they have been invaluable in taking on that new responsibility. I’ve had to learn what to outsource and what to manage myself, and I’ve struggled with how to balance the new demands of practice ownership on my time without compromising my patient care or my time with my family. There are certainly days when I feel stretched or feel the guilt over missing a school event for a work meeting. My family has been very supportive and understanding, and my kids love helping out with projects at the office, like stuffing swag bags for events. It’s also really helped me pull more from my creative writing background for social media, blogs, and website content, which I love. The days aren’t easy, but they are very rewarding.

Why did you think a branding photo shoot would be beneficial for your business?

The branding shoot really helped me capture the culture and personalities of Georgia Skin Specialists. We’re a relaxed, down-to-earth group of women, and that came across in our photos. We are better able to show patients what it will be like to come to our practice with these photos, so there is a level of familiarity before they arrive.

How was your shoot with CatMax Photography different from similar photo shoots you’ve done?

I didn’t have a panic attack! Cat reduced a lot of the stress by having a very well-thought-out plan for which shots she needed to get. We were able to be very productive in a few hours without disrupting patient care or clinic flow. She took very natural-looking shots and showed us the images as we went to make sure we were moving in the right direction.

Which photos from the shoot are some of your favorites and why?

I love the photos Cat took of me with products around the office. They look very natural and unposed. They have already been very useful in presentations and on social media.

What words of wisdom do you have for fellow female business owners?

Surround yourself with positive, supportive friends, colleagues, and mentors who share your vision for your business culture. Running a business is like running long distances. Take advantage of the downhill stretches to breathe and reenergize so you’ll be ready for the uphill that’s right around the turn.

Stay up to date with Dr. Erickson and Georgia Skin Specialists on Instagram at @georgiaskinspecialists. To learn more about the CatMax Photography Personal Branding Experience, click here.