An esthetician is a trained technician who specializes in skin beautification. Estheticians (sometimes spelled aestheticians) are not medical healthcare providers. Instead, they perform cosmetic skin treatments such as facials, superficial chemical peels, body treatments, and waxing. Estheticians usually work in a spa or salon.

With more people seeking non-invasive treatments to help them look more youthful, this occupation is on the rise. There are more than 60,000 estheticians in the U.S. and the demand for them is growing faster than average.

This article explains an esthetician’s services, training, and certification. It also offers tips to make the most of your appointment.

Estheticians, also called skin care therapists, specialize in cosmetic treatments of the skin. If you’ve ever wondered about your skin type, or if you have trouble deciding which skin care products to buy, a visit to an esthetician may be helpful.

Although the term “medical aesthetics” is commonly used, esthetics is not a medical practice. As such, estheticians are not allowed to do certain things, including:

• Diagnose skin conditions

• Prescribe medications

• Suggest treatment for any skin condition outside of cosmetic products

Estheticians are limited to performing treatments that work on the superficial layers of the skin. Therefore, they can’t give any types of injectables like Botox (a procedure that treats wrinkles) or facial fillers (non-surgical face-lift), nor can they do deep chemical peels.

A licensed medical professional, such as a dermatologist, a medical doctor specializing in treating skin conditions, must perform all invasive procedures, diagnoses, and treatments.