Differences Between Esthetician and Dermatologist

Two professionals that pride themselves on treating the skin and ensuring that it looks its best are dermatologists and an aesthetician. Though the goal of both professions focuses on skin treatment, there are some differences between the two. Understanding these differences is the first step that individuals can take when they are trying to decide which career path to choose.



Estheticians are not doctors, therefore the time they spend in schools is much less. They attend a trade school to learn about skin care and are required to pass a state exam in order to become a licensed professional. Depending on the states requirements, and aesthetician will complete about 3 to 6 months of training. You need only be 17 years of age with a high school diploma or GED to go to school to become an aesthetics specialist. Estheticians can provide topical treatments to the skin. They specialize in facials, aroma therapy, microdermabrasion, application of make-up products and body wraps. They can analyze your skin and tailor facials to specific type, but they can not diagnose the conditions or write prescriptions because again, they are not nurses or doctors. Should an esthetician choose to obtain their masters licensing, they would be able to perform more detailed procedures such as laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, as well as chemical peels. It is not uncommon to find an medical esthetician working for certain types of doctors. As an aesthetician, you can earn a pay of $22,000 to $60,000 per year, check this report. When considering these salary ranges, you should also take in to account that most esthetics specialists set their own hours and as such, many only work part-time hours. The salary range listed above reflects that fact.

The cons to becoming an general aesthetician is that you earn way less than a dermatologist. To be fair, the amount of time spent in school is not at long or as rigorous as that of a dermatologist either, which would be considered a pro.



Dermatologists, are actually doctors. Most dermatologist have undergone at least 4 years of undergraduate work, an additional 3 years of medical school, and 1 to 2 years of internship and residency, check this source. Because dermatologists are doctors in range of treatment that they provide is vast. Dermatologists can diagnose & treat skin disorders and diseases. They can write prescriptions to treat skin abnormalities from the inside out. Additionally, they are authorized to perform surgery to fix bad skin. Dermatologists can also diagnose and treat skin cancer. As a dermatologist, you can expect to earn a salary in the range of $200,000 to $400,000 a year. More experienced dermatologists can earn more.

Some may say a con to becoming a dermatology specialist is the time that you spend in school. Of course the pros is a great salary that can be eared immediately after accepting your first job offer.

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Whether or not to become a dermatologist vs. an esthetician depends entirely on your goals. If you are looking for a career where you can make a pretty decent amount of money in a matter of months, then an esthetician is the career for you. However, if you have the time to put into earning a higher degree, then becoming a dermatologist is the job for you.