Skin care therapists and estheticians perform treatments that promote skin beauty and health. These can commonly include facials, waxing, superficial chemical peels, and body treatments. The number of people looking for non-invasive treatments to promote a youthful appearance is rising, meaning that going into skin care therapy can be a great career option for those who like working with people and helping them look and feel their best. When working as a skin care therapist, however, it’s inevitable that you’ll sometimes deal with patients suffering from certain skin disorders, and you might wonder what your responsibilities would be in treating them. Read on to find out more.  

Skin Care Therapy vs. Dermatology

Let’s get one thing straight right at the beginning: as a skin care therapist, it won’t be your responsibility to provide medical treatment for skin disorders. The medical specialty which deals with skin health and skin diseases is dermatology. A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating these issues. They need at least 12 years of training to diagnose and treat various skin conditions. 

In contrast, skin care therapists and estheticians are primarily concerned with the beautification of the skin. Esthetician jobs entail skin beautification expertise. The process of learning how to become an esthetician is much faster. Students must earn a high school diploma and complete training of at least 600 hours of coursework at a skincare therapy program in the state of North Carolina and 1000 hours in Georgia. They complete the process by taking a state exam. 

Do Esthetician Jobs Involve Treating Skin Conditions?

Although skin therapists can provide treatment and tips that lead to healthier skin, they cannot and should not provide medical advice, diagnose skin conditions, or write prescriptions the way a dermatological professional can. They provide services like facial treatments, body wraps, scrubs, masks, and chemical peels. Facial treatments consist of exfoliation, facial steaming, and deep cleansing. Masks and scrubs are used to clean and soften the skin following specialized procedures. Superficial chemical peels involve special chemicals to exfoliate the skin quickly and reduce aging. Skin specialists also perform laser hair removal, tweezing, and threading to help clients remove unwanted body hair. 

Common Skin Conditions Encountered in Esthetician Jobs

Although skin care therapists might not have the responsibility of providing medical treatment for skin disorders, they do thorough skin examinations and must be familiar with various common skin conditions so that they can understand how these conditions may be affected by common esthetics treatments. Here are some common conditions you’re likely to encounter:

1. Acne           

Acne is a common skin condition that often begins in puberty and affects adolescents and young adults, although people of any age can suffer from it. It’s typically caused by clogged pores in the skin. Estheticians can often improve mild-to-moderate acne breakouts through exfoliation treatment.

2. Psoriasis

This skin disease causes a rash with scaly and itchy patches on the scalp, elbows, and knees which “flares up” and then goes away in cycles. It’s caused by a disorder of the immune system. Triggers for flare-ups vary, and can include skin injuries, changes in body temperature due to weather, and emotional stress. Skin care therapists might be able to help psoriasis sufferers avoid flare-ups with treatments that help them de-stress.

3. Rosacea

This is a long-term facial skin condition that results in pimples and redness. It mostly affects the forehead, nose, and cheeks. The causes of rosacea are not well understood. People with rosacea often experience flare-ups of the condition in response to “triggers,” similar to psoriasis.

Start Your Skin Care Therapy Career at Health and Style Institute

Working as a skin care therapist can bring the job satisfaction that comes with helping people look their best and feel good about themselves. If that appeals to you, then consider starting your journey as a skin care therapist with Health and Style Institute. Our comprehensive, modern skin care therapy program includes the anatomy and physiology of the skin, disorders and diseases, skin types and conditions, basic and corrective facial treatments, facial massage techniques, product knowledge and application, spa body basics, hair removal techniques, business basics, effective retailing and communication skills, professional ethics, service promotion, hygiene and personal grooming, safety precautions and procedures, and state laws & regulations. Call 1-844-94-STYLE to learn more.