Ericka Privitt, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP

Ericka Privitt, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP Doctorally Prepared and Double Board Certified Dermatology Nurse Practitioner. Specializing in Medical, Surgical and Cosmetic Dermatology.

In practice since 2015.

✨ Sunday Skincare Tip: It’s Time to Bring Out the Humidifiers! ✨As the air gets colder and drier, your skin starts to fe...
11/16/2025

✨ Sunday Skincare Tip: It’s Time to Bring Out the Humidifiers! ✨

As the air gets colder and drier, your skin starts to feel it first. One of the simplest (and coziest!) ways to help your skin stay healthy all winter long is by running a bedside humidifier.

Here’s why your skin loves a little extra humidity:

💧 Skin Benefits
• Helps prevent dryness, flaking, and irritation
• Supports your skin barrier so it stays soft and supple
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines caused by dehydration
• Helps calming products—like moisturizers and serums—work even better
• Soothes eczema, psoriasis, and winter itch by keeping skin hydrated

💧 Hair & Nail Benefits
• Reduces static, breakage, and brittle ends
• Keeps your scalp from getting itchy or flaky
• Helps nails stay stronger and less prone to peeling

💧 Bonus Wellness Benefits
• Eases dry sinuses and nighttime congestion
• Helps prevent nosebleeds in dry climates
• Can improve sleep quality by making the air more comfortable

⸻

✨ Humidifier Health Tips (Important!) ✨
A humidifier only helps if it’s kept clean and safe:

• Empty and refill with fresh water daily
• Give it a good rinse every 1–2 days
• Deep clean with vinegar or manufacturer instructions weekly
• Use distilled water if possible to prevent mineral buildup
• Keep humidity around 40–50% to avoid mold and over-humidifying

⸻

Winter skin doesn’t have to be a struggle—sometimes the best skincare is the simplest. 🤍
Are you team humidifier yet?

🌿 Struggling With Hair Thinning Lately? You’re Not Alone.I’ve been seeing so many patients with sudden or increased hair...
11/14/2025

🌿 Struggling With Hair Thinning Lately? You’re Not Alone.

I’ve been seeing so many patients with sudden or increased hair shedding, and one of the most common causes right now is something called Telogen Effluvium.

✨ What is Telogen Effluvium?

Telogen Effluvium is a stress-induced type of hair shedding.
Your hair follicles cycle between growth and rest phases. When your body goes through stress — physical or emotional — more follicles shift into the “rest” phase.
About 2–3 months later, the shedding begins.

Common triggers include:
• Illness or viral infection
• Surgery
• Major life stress
• Hormonal shifts
• Rapid weight changes
• Medications

The good news? It’s usually temporary once the trigger resolves.

⸻

🧴 What You Can Do at Home

✨ 1. Scalp Massage (daily or every other day)

This is one of the simplest and most underestimated tools for hair health.
Gentle scalp massage helps:
• Increase blood flow to the hair follicles
• Reduce tension held in the scalp
• Support healthier, thicker regrowth
• Stimulate dormant follicles over time

You can use your fingertips or a silicone scalp brush. Apply light pressure in circular motions for 3–5 minutes.

✨ 2. Over-the-Counter Options

Here are a few evidence-supported tools patients can safely try at home:
• Topical Minoxidil (Rogaine®) – helps prolong the growth phase.
• Nutrafol® or Viviscal® – supplements that support hair health from within.
• Peppermint or Rosemary Oil (diluted) – may support circulation and follicle activity.
• Gentle shampoo + conditioner routines – avoid overwashing or stripping the scalp.
• Protein and iron-rich diet – especially if you’re prone to low ferritin.

⸻

🌱 When to See a Dermatology Provider

If your shedding lasts more than 3–4 months, or if you’re noticing visible patches, scalp symptoms, or sudden thinning, it’s worth getting evaluated. I can help identify whether it’s telogen effluvium, hormonal, autoimmune, nutritional, or something else entirely.

11/07/2025

We often focus on the lines around the mouth and jaw when we think about aging. But what this video shows is something I talk about every day: aging starts from the mid-face.

As we get older, the cheeks lose volume and support. When that natural “lift” in the mid-face diminishes, the lower face begins to look heavier, leading to smile lines, marionette lines, and jowling.

This is why starting correction in the mid-face can make the most natural and youthful difference. When we restore support where volume was lost, the lower face softens without over-filling around the mouth.

My goal is always to enhance, lift, and maintain your natural features—never to change who you are.
Understanding where aging begins is key to getting results that feel fresh, balanced, and authentically you.

If you’d like to talk through your unique facial structure and goals, I’m here.

🖤💉🖤💉🖤
10/31/2025

🖤💉🖤💉🖤

Post your fave Halloween snaps 👻Here’s my fave Halloween pic from years ago. I love how Halloween brings magic to our li...
10/31/2025

Post your fave Halloween snaps 👻
Here’s my fave Halloween pic from years ago. I love how Halloween brings magic to our lives - it’s a time for playfulness, laughter, and making unforgettable memories. Truly the most special time of the year. ✨

10/23/2025

Another day, another battle with insurance and pharmacies. I’m not the one, not the two, not the three, but I got time today! Always fighting for my patients’ best care, no matter what. 💪

10/18/2025

Would you wear this?

10/17/2025

You know why! These companies are the worst thing to ever happen to medicine. Make it make sense. TGIF

Because good things — and good skin — come to those who wait 💫
10/13/2025

Because good things — and good skin — come to those who wait 💫

10/12/2025

🍁🍂As the air turns cooler and humidity drops, your skin naturally loses more moisture — leading to dryness, flaking, and sensitivity. This is the time to focus on hydration and barrier repair. Swap harsh or foaming cleansers for gentle, creamy formulas that cleanse without stripping essential oils. Look for products containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin to help lock in moisture and strengthen your skin barrier. Over-the-counter favorites like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, or Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer are excellent options for maintaining hydration and keeping your skin balanced through fall and winter. Think of it as giving your skin a cozy sweater for the season. 🍂

Happy Monday, beautiful souls 🌞Just a reminder — your skin isn’t just your body’s largest organ… it’s also an energetic ...
10/06/2025

Happy Monday, beautiful souls 🌞
Just a reminder — your skin isn’t just your body’s largest organ… it’s also an energetic shield.
It reflects what’s happening beneath the surface — stress, sleep, hormones, even your spirit.
✨ Fun fact: Skin renews itself every 28–40 days — a full moon cycle of healing.
So if you’re starting new habits today, know this: your skin will show the energy you feed it.

Protect your peace. Nourish your glow. Radiate your magic. 🌿💫

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🎀Breast cancer and melanoma may seem like very different diseases, but resear...
10/02/2025

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🎀

Breast cancer and melanoma may seem like very different diseases, but research has shown an important connection:
👉 Women with a history of breast cancer have a higher risk of developing melanoma.
👉 Likewise, women with melanoma may have a higher risk of breast cancer.

This means that being proactive about your health is more important than ever. 🩺💗

✨ What you can do:
• Stay up-to-date with your breast screenings (mammograms and self-checks).
• Don’t skip your skin checks—early detection of melanoma saves lives.
• Protect your skin with SPF, even in the cooler months.
• Listen to your body and never ignore changes in your skin or breast tissue.

💡 Early detection is powerful. By taking care of yourself through regular screenings and skin exams, you’re not only protecting your health—you’re giving yourself the best chance at living a long, vibrant life.

Let’s lift each other up this month and remind the women in our lives: schedule that mammogram, schedule that skin check, and encourage others to do the same. 💕

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7236 Jordan Drive STE 101
Rapid City, SD
57701

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