Latest news with #Chacon
NBC News
01-08-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Onion shampoo for hair growth? Yup, it's a thing
We don't always have the answers, but we have some people on speed dial who do — which is why we present to you our series FYI where we have experts explain if lip balm is actually bad, how often you should wash your hair and more. French onion soup? Delicious. Adding a grilled onion to your burger? Chef's kiss. The latest TikTok trend? Incorporating onions into a hair care routine. Yup, you read that right. Onion extract in shampoo may actually be beneficial for your strands, according to experts. 'Onions are naturally antimicrobial while rich in sulfur and antioxidants so there is truth in onion being potentially helpful as an ingredient in hair products,' says Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami, Florida. Because of this, there are a number of shampoos on the market that list onion extract as one of their primary ingredients. Below, we spoke to experts about the potential benefits associated with onion shampoo, whether you can use it if you have color-treated hair and more — plus, gathered a few highly rated options for you to shop. What is onion shampoo? Onion shampoo is exactly what it sounds like — shampoo that has onion as a main ingredient. Though it may sound funky, the experts we spoke to agree that onion extract can help hair health. 'Onion contains sulfur, which is a key building block for keratin, the protein that makes up your hair,' says Dr. Ross Kopelman, a hair transplant surgeon at Kopelman Hair Restoration. 'It also has antimicrobial properties that can support a healthier scalp environment. Some studies suggest it may increase blood flow to the scalp and reduce inflammation, which are both important for hair health.' Most commonly, hair products with this vegetable are aimed at helping with hair thinning and encouraging growth. One clinical trial even found that when onion extract was applied topically, it helped people with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss) with regrowth. 'While we need more research, I've seen some patients benefit when using onion-based treatments as part of a broader hair care routine,' says Kopelman. The perks may sound great, but worried that onion shampoo will leave you smelling like the deli counter? Don't be. While onion extract may be a primary ingredient, the shampoos available that use it also have other beneficial (and pleasant-smelling) ingredients, such as lavender or rosemary. Can anyone use onion shampoo? In general, over-the-counter shampoos with onion extract are gentle and sulfate-free, so they should be safe for just about everyone to use. That said, if you have color-treated hair, you may want to think twice. 'Onions are acidic, so using them on color-treated hair can disrupt the delicate PH balance needed to prolong the look of freshly colored hair,' says Chacon. 'Avoiding the shaft of the treated hair and concentrating at the scalp is an option but be sure to patch test to ensure you don't have any scalp sensitivity.' Chacon also recommends that those with sensitive skin proceed with caution. 'The smell could also be a hindrance here as well as the effect onions have on the eyes and the close proximity of the scalp to the eyes,' says Chacon. 'Instead, I would opt for rosemary oil — which is an alternative natural ingredient that has all of the antifungal, growth promoting effects but with a pleasant scent.' Finally, if you are allergic to anything in the allium family (like onions or garlic), it's best to skip this type of shampoo. 'I've seen a few cases of contact dermatitis from poorly formulated onion shampoos,' says Kopelman. 'Also, if you have eczema or active scalp inflammation, it's best to consult with a specialist before adding anything new to your regimen.' 5 onion shampoos to shop Ready to jump on the bandwagon and try some onion shampoo? Our experts recommend using it once or twice a week to reap the full benefits. Any less and you may not notice any changes, any more and it may be too harsh. Below, we've rounded up some of the most popular onion shampoos available. This gentle shampoo is arguably the most popular onion shampoo on TikTok. It has onion extract to accelerate hair growth, as well as peptides to help with elasticity and lavender extract to protect against breakage, according to the brand. The formula is also lightweight, so it won't weigh down strands. 'I would truly never know or guess that there was onion in this shampoo if you didn't tell me,' says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin, who was sent a sample from the brand. 'It smells like a professional-grade shampoo and the floral fragrance is pretty strong, but not bad at all. It's a standard shampoo — lathers well, washes out easily and makes my hair and scalp feel clean.' Onion extract is the star ingredient of this shampoo, but it also has plant keratin to strengthen and vitamin E to nourish the scalp, according to the brand. It's also free of sulfates, silicones, parabens and mineral oils, making it a nice choice for those with sensitive skin. Mamaearth also makes an onion hair oil treatment to help with dehydrated hair. This shampoo has a 4-star average rating from 9,463 reviews on Amazon. Part of the beauty retailer's ' Clean at Sephora ' line, this shampoo is made with natural ingredients and is vegan and cruelty-free, according to the brand. In addition to encouraging hair growth, it has additional ingredients that also provide natural UV protection, according to Fable & Main. It also has a pleasant, spicy scent thanks to a mix of nutmeg, saffron and sandalwood. This set comes with shampoo and a leave-in conditioning treatment — both of which have onion extract. While the experts we spoke with say you should only use onion shampoo a few times a week to avoid irritation, this set is gentle enough for daily use, according to the brand. It also has rosemary to strengthen hair and give it a herbaceous scent and biotin for shine. The set has a 4.2-star average rating from 5,073 reviews on Amazon. If smelling like an onion is one of your primary concerns about this type of shampoo, consider this unscented formula. The gentle formula is safe for color-treated hair and has antioxidants to help strengthen hair, according to the brand. It has a 4.4-star average rating from 3,841 reviews on Amazon, with many reviewers saying their hair feels soft and noticeably stronger after using it. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed two experts on the benefits of onion shampoo.
CNBC
25-07-2025
- Health
- CNBC
39-year-old dermatologist spent $180,000 to get licensed nationwide—she made $870,000 last year
Very few doctors can say they practice nationwide, making Dr. Anna Chacon a standout. There are just over a million licensed physicians in the U.S. as of 2023, and less than 8% of those doctors have licenses to practice in three or more states, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards. Chacon is licensed to practice dermatology in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She runs her own private practice out of Coral Gables, Miami, and sees patients around the country both virtually and in-person when she travels periodically. Back in 2020, Chacon's father, who's also a physician, was laid off from his job at a hospital in Miami. The shock of that layoff inspired Chacon to open her own practice to help insulate herself and her finances from facing a similar challenge. Additionally, she had started doing telehealth appointments during the Covid-19 pandemic and "really loved it," she says. So she started exploring her options to be able to continue working remotely. "I said, 'okay, well, where can I work? How can I do this on a bigger scale?' And I decided to apply for all the licenses," she says. Every state has its own physician licensing process, making it no easy feat to get credentialed in numerous places. Getting the licenses themselves typically have fees that can be hundreds of dollars, she says. Additionally, the application processes often required notarizations, background checks and other costly administrative tasks. "People did think I was crazy at the time, including my dad," Chacon says. "You have to do a lot of paperwork to apply. There's a lot of fees, there's sometimes tests, sometimes you have to go in person." She had to travel to Puerto Rico to get licensed there, she says. All in, Chacon says it cost her at least $180,000 to acquire all of her licenses between those fees, along with travel and other costs. She paid it all on her own from her earnings at the time, she says. "It is really expensive and I have no regrets doing it," she says. "It's great, it's wonderful, but it's also the cost of doing business is what I was told." The investment has paid off well for her so far. She earned over $870,000 in 2024 between her salary from her main practice in Coral Gables and earnings from telehealth contracts nationwide. She earned additional income from renting out two properties. "I did it because I wanted that ability to work from anywhere," she says. "And I also love how I meet patients from all different places — places that I've never heard of, like Raton, New Mexico. I sometimes look up these places and I just get intrigued by it, by the pathologies that I see." Her national licensing has helped Chacon build a large roster of clients, but also allowed her to see patients who otherwise may have trouble accessing health care. She travels to rural parts of the country and says she'll see anyone in need. "I do a lot of work with indigenous tribes, both in Alaska and in California, and a lot of them are very poor," she says. She could theoretically make more money focusing on expensive procedures like cosmetics and other elective surgeries, but she's more interested in helping people who need her medical services. "I've discovered that when you see an area of need and something you really like [that's] when things really flourish and you discover a path towards success," she says.
CNBC
21-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
39-year-old dermatologist bought a $2 million home outside of Miami—why she's never lived there
Anna Chacon always wanted to own a home close to her parents, near where she grew up in Miami, she says. The 39-year-old dermatologist achieved that goal when she purchased a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Pinecrest, Florida, a nearby suburb, for $1.9 million in 2023. But she never ended up moving in. Instead, she lives with her parents and grandmother. Chacon spent several years away from her family while she was in medical school at Brown University in Rhode Island and completing her residency in Los Angeles. As a result, she's catching up on lost time and savoring the moments she has with her family as her parents and grandma get older. "I'm proud to [live with them]," she says. "I want to spend every moment I can with them. I want to learn from them." Chacon pays her family $3,000 a month for rent and groceries, although she spends around $200 a month on groceries and takeout herself as well, sometimes more if she's traveling. Her rent also compensates her family for errands and tasks they do for her while she runs her medical practice. Chacon earned close to $900,000 in 2024, so living at home isn't about saving money. She lived alone in L.A. during her residency, but didn't love it, she says. She would often eat TV dinners at home or at the hospital. Now, she and her family often prepare meals to enjoy together. "I feel like I can help them," she says. "I would hate for something to happen to them and me not be there." Plus, Chacon's private practice is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She works 80 to 120 hours a week herself, she says, so she doesn't spend all that much time at home anyway. "I also think it's kind of a waste of money for me to move out because I'm single," she says. If anything changes, though, she has the Pinecrest house as a backup plan, she says. So, why did Chacon purchase a home if she didn't plan to live in it? "I had planned on making it an investment property because I knew real estate was going up more and more in Florida and South Florida, especially in this area," she says. "I wanted to dive in before it got any worse." The house sat empty for a few months after she bought it until a family friend helped her find a renter. She now makes $7,500 a month in rental income from the property and paid off the mortgage in January 2025. Even for high-earners like Chacon, paying off a mortgage early isn't a common move because it means less liquidity to invest in other areas. Just under 40% of American homeowners are mortgage-free, according to the most recent Census Bureau data. But, "I was always taught that debt is a bad thing," Chacon says. So she paid off her mortgage as quickly as possible, a strategy she also took with her first property acquisition — the building that houses her dermatology practice. She purchased the building in Coral Gables, Florida, in 2022 for $1.1 million and paid off the mortgage in just four months. A medical spa rents most of the office space from her, earning her another $7,500 a month. Chacon used to be "terrible with money," she says. But her aggressive stock market investing and real estate endeavors have helped her build up a net worth of over $6 million as of June 2025. She has no plans to retire early, or ever, as she "loves to work." But she's proud of the safety net she's built for herself and plans to continue making sure she has the means to support her family and be able to leave a situation or do something else if she's not happy, she says.
CNBC
17-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
'I used to be terrible with money': 39-year-old went from living 'paycheck to paycheck' to earning nearly $900,000 last year
Even as a child, Dr. Anna Chacon knew she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in medicine. She was drawn to the idea that her skills and knowledge could help people. "I observed my father a lot. I went to work with him. I would study on his lap. He had to study many hours as a physician, and I really liked it," the 39-year-old tells CNBC Make It. Chacon made her childhood dream come true in 2012, when she graduated from Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School. She attended Brown for her undergraduate degree as well, studying economics. Now, she runs her own private dermatology practice in Coral Gables, Florida, just outside of Miami where she grew up. In addition to seeing patients at her clinic, Chacon works with several hospital networks to provide telehealth services to patients around the country. She earned around $896,000 in 2024 through her own practice, contract work through other hospitals, rental income and brand partnerships. Though she "used to be bad with money," she says, Chacon has built a small dermatology empire, as well as an investment portfolio worth over $3.2 million, bringing her total net worth to around $6 million, including the two properties she owns. Her pathway to success wasn't easy, though. She was often discouraged by people who didn't believe she could be successful in medicine or running her own practice, especially as a minority. "When I told people I wanted to do dermatology or be a physician, I was met, unfortunately, with a lot of discouragement because it was very competitive," she says. "I was told to do something else or that I wouldn't get in, and that actually just encouraged me to work harder." After finishing her residency, Chacon worked as a staff dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida. Her father worked at a nearby hospital, but was laid off at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. "It was a shock for me and everyone else in the family, but it inspired me to know that I couldn't rely on one source [of income]," she says. "As comforting as it sometimes is to work for a big hospital system, a pandemic can happen at any time, and you can go through something unexpected." So, in September 2021, Chacon decided to open her own practice where she could expand her patient list and work on her own terms. From there, she obtained licensure in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, a lengthy process that cost around $180,000, she says. Costs included travel, fees for things like background checks and professional assistance. "I wanted that ability to work from anywhere," Chacon says. Her father's layoff not only inspired Chacon to start her own practice, but also to get serious about saving. "I used to be terrible with money. I didn't know how to save. I didn't know how to take advantage of retirement accounts," she says. "Growing up in Miami, there's a lot of focus on materialism … I pretty much lived day by day and paycheck to paycheck." Running her own practice helped Chacon boost her income, but to get better at managing her finances, she started educating herself about investing, including reading outlets like CNBC and The Wall Street Journal, she says. She also downloaded an app to track and manage her finances all in one place. "When I initially started tracking my net worth, I was shocked at how low it was," Chacon says. "My one regret is I didn't start sooner. Most of my growth has actually been in the past five years." Although she didn't have much saved, Chacon was lucky to be debt-free — she didn't even own a credit card when she finished her residency. Her parents and scholarships helped pay for her schooling, so she didn't have student debt either. In 2022, Chacon purchased an office building in Coral Gables for $1.1 million. She put around $300,000 down and paid off the mortgage in 2023. Her practice occupies a portion of the building and she rents out the rest to a medical spa that pays her $7,500 a month. The next year, she purchased a home in Pinecrest, Florida, for $1.9 million. She paid off the mortgage in early 2025, but has never actually lived in the house, choosing instead to continue living with her family and renting out the property for $7,500 a month. She spent a lot of time away from her family while she was in residency in Los Angeles, so she's happy to get plenty of time with them now. "I'm proud to [live with them]," she says. "I want to spend every moment I can with them. I want to learn from them ... I also think it's kind of a waste of money for me to move out because I'm single." Despite earning a high income, Chacon doesn't spend too much beyond her needs. "I try to immerse myself into how to invest properly, and I also try to save for another pandemic because of what my family went through and what we all went through just a few years ago," she says. "I also have gotten just more modest as a physician. A lot of my patients live below the poverty line." She'll occasionally splurge on clothes and shoes when sales are good, she says, but she's trying to rein in her shopping. Here's how she spent her money in April 2025. Chacon also paid around $27,000 for some business expenses, including licensure renewals, tech equipment, marketing and legal fees, subscriptions and services. Chacon pays her family $3,000 a month as a contribution to rent and groceries, as well as payment for some administrative help and errands her family members do for her. Because of that, her personal food budget is often on the low side. She doesn't make regular monthly contributions to her savings and investment accounts, but she front-loaded her retirement accounts at the beginning of the year with contributions totaling $170,000. Chacon prioritizes travel. She'll often add leisure time into her work trips to to maximize her time away from home, she says. She also flies business class most of the time so she can do computer work during flights, she says. Chacon's practice is open 24/7 and she works 80 to 120 hours a week, so she doesn't have much free time. While she recognizes she won't be able to maintain this busy pace forever, "I never want to retire," she says. "I love working. I wouldn't be here if I didn't love to work." Still, she's continuing to save and invest for the future so she can maintain her independence and have the financial means to make decisions "when I want to on my own terms," she says. Ultimately, she wants to make sure she and her family are taken care of and can weather any surprises or downturns that could come their way. She hopes to expand her practice in the future to create something "on a national level." "I want to be known as 'America's dermatologist' that can practice everywhere, because ideally I want to have the biggest reach possible," she says.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Defendants accused in death of developmentally disabled woman to appear in court
BERNALILLO — Two caregivers charged in connection with the death of a disabled woman found clinging to life in the back of a van at the U.S.-Mexico border now stand accused of violating the conditions of their release, prompting prosecutors to ask a judge to lock them up until their trial. Angelita Chacon and Patricia Hurtado appeared before 13th Judicial District Judge Christopher Perez for a hearing Monday on allegations they removed their GPS ankle monitors and were in communication with each other, but the judge did not issue a ruling. Instead, Perez granted their attorneys' request to delay the hearing, which he said will probably be set within two weeks. Both women hurried out of the courtroom afterward, and neither one of their attorneys returned a message seeking comment. The alleged violations of Chacon and Hurtado's conditions of release is the latest twist in a caretaker abuse case that shook New Mexico and the state's Developmental Disability Waiver program after Mary Melero, who was under Chacon's care, was discovered unresponsive and wrapped in a blanket in the back of a passenger van after an inspection at the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry in El Paso in February 2023. 060225_GC_ChaconHurtadoHearing_02rgb.jpg Patricia Hurtado is shown in the state District Court in Sandoval County on Monday for a hearing on the conditions of her release. The incident triggered a sweeping review of the so-called DD Waiver program and in-person wellness checks on everyone in the program across New Mexico. Melero, who had autism and was in a state-run program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, was severely dehydrated and drugged when she was found by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. She also had numerous open wounds, including chronic bedsores with exposed bone, bruises and lacerations on various parts of her body, as well as ligature marks consistent with prolonged restraint, according to court documents. After Melero was transported to a hospital in El Paso, medical staff determined her wounds were at different stages, suggesting Melero was a victim of chronic abuse. After spending more than a month in the hospital, Melero was removed from life support and died. Chacon, who was Melero's primary caregiver, was charged with five criminal counts, including abuse or neglect of a resident resulting in death. Hurtado, who was Chacon's live-in girlfriend at the time, also was charged with abuse of a resident resulting in death. Supplemental indictments allege the women made fraudulent claims to receive Medicaid benefits for the Customized Community Support program for caring for Melero, as well as Chacon's special-needs son. After they were arrested, an order setting their conditions of release required both, among other provisions, to be placed on electronic monitoring and not to have direct or indirect contact with each other, which prosecutors alleged they violated. "The defendants were alleged to have violated their conditions of release by taking off their ankle monitor and communicating with each other — very clear disregard for the judge's order — so we had requested that the conditions of release be revoked and that that they be remanded into custody," Joseph Martinez, acting director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the New Mexico Department of Justice, said in an interview outside the courtroom. "The judge granted the defense's continuance request to have the hearing very shortly, so we will be prepared at that hearing to request that both defendants be remanded into custody," he said. 060225_GC_ChaconHurtadoHearing_03rgb.jpg State District Judge Chris Perez speaks Monday during a hearing for Angelita Chacon and Patricia Hurtado on Monday. A motion to revoke Hurtado's conditions of release alleges she "admitted to having removed her GPS ankle monitor to leave the county" after an informant alerted authorities. "The informant stated ... she was concerned for her safety because defendant had been sending her 'threatening text messages' after she had witnessed defendant's violations of her conditions of release," documents state. "Pretrial Services also claims that Patricia admitted to remaining in physical and telephonic contact with her co-defendant and even giving Ms. Chacon money ... to pay her bills." The state's motion to revoke Chacon's conditions of release alleges Hurtado told authorities Chacon had removed her ankle monitor to leave the state. "The defendant's conduct of removing her GPS monitor and leaving her county of residence so close to her trial setting highlights the degree to which she represents a risk of flight," documents state. Martinez called the allegations against Chacon and Hurtado "horrific." "Our job at the New Mexico Department of Justice is to hold bad actors accountable," he said. "That's why we are doing our absolute best to bring justice to the vicim in the case and to make sure that everything is investigated and prosecuted thoroughly."
