The skin care industry is booming, but distinguishing between job titles can be confusing. This is especially true with overlapping services and similar names. It’s easier to distinguish between a dermatologist and an esthetician, but what about an esthetician and an aesthetician?
Both estheticians and aestheticians help their clients care for their skin with personalized advice and treatments. Here is what you need to know about estheticians and aestheticians so you can determine which career is right for you.
Are Estheticians And Aestheticians The Same?
This is a bit of a tricky question to answer because sometimes, people do use the terms interchangeably. However, there is typically a technical difference between the two, in that estheticians focus on cosmetic skin concerns while aestheticians focus on more medical issues.
Both estheticians and aestheticians work with their clients in order to improve their skin’s appearance. They are both licensed skin care specialists, however, their responsibilities, education, and training differ according to the demands of their specializations.
Bear in mind that their duties, titles, and roles can vary from state to state. Depending on the state, estheticians may or may not be able to provide services such as laser hair removal or skin resurfacing.
What Do Estheticians Do?
Estheticians typically work at spas or salons. They are sometimes referred to as facialists or skincare specialists. Their work is focused on cosmetic procedures, to improve and maintain their clients’ skin’s appearance. Some offer additional luxury services, such as body wraps, brow enhancements, aromatherapy, acne treatment, eyelash extensions, and more.
What Do Aestheticians Do?
Aestheticians typically work in clinical settings, like hospitals and dermatology clinics. They are sometimes referred to as medical, paramedical, or clinical estheticians. They perform non-invasive procedures on their clients’ skin and also help their clients maintain their skin after treatment. They treat issues such as skin damage, like burns and acne, and typically offer services from skin resurfacing to skin tightening and more.
Are Aestheticians Dermatologists?
No, they are not. While aestheticians are licensed skin care professionals, dermatologists are full-fledged medical doctors who specialized in skin. Dermatologists go to college, then medical school, and then complete a residency, while aestheticians typically take one or two-year courses before earning their license.
An aesthetician can help with various skin issues, however, they cannot diagnose or treat specific skin conditions like a dermatologist can. Aestheticians can assist dermatologists by working under their direction to provide complimentary treatments that help patients’ skin and that support any medical treatments the dermatologist provides.
Which Career Is Right For You?
Estheticians, aestheticians, and dermatologists all work with skin, but they are different career paths with different requirements.
If you are invested in the medical side of skincare, you would likely want to pursue a career as a dermatologist. This involves at least 12 years of coursework and patient care. For a less intense option, you may pursue a career as a dermatologist assistant, which takes about 6 years.
Aestheticians typically work alongside dermatologists or plastic surgeons. So if you like the more medical side of skincare but don’t want to become a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, this career option allows you to provide treatments in a more clinical setting.
If your interest is more on the cosmetic side and helping your clients feel their best with specialized treatments, you would likely want to pursue a career as an esthetician. You can earn your license in less than a year and then go on to work at a spa, salon, or even for yourself. You can also obtain specialized training in luxury treatments, like eyebrow shaping and aromatherapy.
Do You Want To Become An Esthetician?
The Skin Institute is here to help! We offer both basic and master esthetician courses in St. George, UT, with multiple enrollment dates throughout the year. You can do one of our part-time course options during the day or the evening in order to complete the course and test for your license in 24 weeks. You can also enroll full-time in order to test for your license in 15 weeks.
Throughout your training, you will learn professionalism, different treatments and specialties, and have opportunities, such as visiting the luxury, world-class spa at Amangiri and the Bodies exhibition in Las Vegas. We also offer specialty classes in order to help you maximize your career options. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you become an esthetician.
