By Ebony McGee
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January 12, 2022
An Esthetician and a Dermatologist both care for the health of your skin. Although their training and treatments differ, their goals are shared. You may find yourself experiencing skin issues that are commonly and easily treated by an esthetician. Therefore, a visit to a dermatologist may not be necessary. In some cases, you could develop a more serious skin problem that requires medical treatment. By knowing what each professional does will, it will give you a better idea of which expert to see in regard to your skin health. What Does an Esthetician Do? An esthetician is a trained professional who is licensed in their state to provide health and beauty treatment to the skin. This skincare professional participates in various apprenticeships and must maintain continuing education to uphold their license. An esthetician completes an average of a few hundred hours of coursework or up to 1,500 hours of training followed by additional training in a specialty if desired. One thing to know is that an esthetician does not diagnose, prescribe medication, or treat skin conditions as their work is strictly cosmetic. Estheticians are not doctors and have not gone to medical school. However, they are highly knowledgeable about the skin and skilled in various techniques that support the health and well-being of our biggest organ. Their main focus is usually improving the look and feel of the skin by using advanced technologies and corrective ingredients to get results. The profession has grown tremendously within the last few decades as the need for corrective more youthful treatments grow in demand. Each treatment requires a significant amount of training and some must be certified to perform certain services. Below are some common treatments often performed by estheticians: Waxing Chemical Peels Body Scrubs Hair Removal Make-up Application Aromatherapy Microdermabrasion Extractions Steaming Laser Therapy Tattoo Removal Tattoo Make-up What does a Dermatologist Do? A Dermatologist is a doctor who has gone to medical school and chooses to specialize in treating the skin primarily. A dermatologist is fully licensed in their state and has completed 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year internship, 3 years of residency and over 12,000 hours caring for patients. They are able to diagnose, prescribe medication, and treat over 3,000 skin conditions. Dermatologists can also become board-certified if they choose to take and pass an exam administered by The American Board of Dermatology or The American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology and become a Fellow of American Academy of Dermatology (FAD). There are additional areas of specialty a dermatologist may choose like Pediatric Dermatology, surgical dermatology known as Mohs surgeon, or a Dermatopathologist. These providers are skilled in treating skin common conditions like psoriasis, eczema, acne, and scaring among many more. They help educate clients on their conditions and prescribe medications and treatment when necessary. Why is finding the right care so important? Your skin is a vital organ that encapsulates your body. It helps protect you from the elements like the heat and cold weather while serving as a barrier against harmful bacteria and viruses. It also represents a report as to what is going on inside your body such as stress, inflammation, or toxicity. Each of these professions mentioned above care for the skin in different ways. Some people understand that they desire to have a more youthful look and know seeing an esthetician would help them achieve their goals. Both of these professions often work alongside one another and a good provider will listen to you and help you create the healthy skin you hope for. If you have questions about your skincare routine please contact Ebony McGee .