By Dave Harney
Princeton's WordNet defines esthetician as a worker skilled in giving beauty treatments such as manicures and facials. An alternate definition is a philosopher who specializes in the nature of beauty, which may be an appropriate reference to those who help us become more beautiful. But today, the field is expanding, estheticians not only work in beauty salons and spas, they are also increasingly found in medical offices alongside dermatologists and other doctors.
Many modern medical settings are finding the skills and abilities of highly-trained professional estheticians to be extremely helpful. And it is this expansion of responsibilities, as well as the traditional roles, that are fueling the growth in careers for estheticians. However, because the new responsibilities of a medical esthetician require additional knowledge, the career does demand additional education.
The study of esthetics involves training in how to improve and care for external parts of the body, such as skin, nails, and hair. Those aspiring to the field must understand many elements of human physiology including, nutrition, chemistry, anatomy, and more. They must learn how to support healthy skin, hair, and nail growth through stimulating circulation and lymph systems and removing toxins from the body. And since many Americans are overweight, some schools are now offering courses designed to increase an understanding of weight loss. More traditional courses also focus on how to increase firmness and elasticity of the skin, which also has medical applications.
Diseases that affect hair, nails, and skin are studied carefully, giving students the tools to recognize disorders that estheticians may treat, as well as those that may require a physician. To enable this, many newer esthetic courses focus on disease and crucial body systems. The focus is on physiology and histology, the study of the microscopic structure of animal and plant tissues.
Diane Dinsmore, R.N., Director of the New York Institute of Esthetics notes that, “As the baby boom generation ages conditions that affect skin, nails, and hair are increasing. So medical estheticians are finding an increasing demand for their services.” Dinsmore reports that, “The number of facilities in which graduates find employment is also increasing. Doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and specialized medical facilities are just a few. For example, a medical esthetician employed by a hospital's burn unit may provide instruction to patients on how to cosmetically conceal burn scars, while a medical esthetician allied with a dermatologist may routinely perform treatments to restore patients' skin to its optimal condition.”
While the career of a medical esthetician can be exciting and highly rewarding, the vast majority of those choosing to pursue the field will ultimately find themselves working in salons, spas, or other beauty category. The focus here is usually on non-medical applications, although there is starting to be more cross-over. Weight loss applications and programs are one area that is trending in this direction. In either medical or non-medical applications however, the focus is on working with individuals to help improve image, self-confidence and overall health.
In New York, only 30 weeks of training is required to become a licensed esthetician. Imagine, having a whole new career less than a year! Here in Western New York, training takes place at The New York Institute of Esthetics. Call 633-4642, Extension 213 for class dates.
WNY Resource:
New York Institute of Esthetics
4701 Transit Rd.
Williamsville
716-633-4642 ext. 213
Skin Deep: Become an Esthetician
Copyright, Buffalo Healthy Living, 2010
Publisher/Editor RHL
David Harney
Publisher /Editor BHL
Annette Pinder
Associate Editor
Kathleen Moore, Ph.D
Creative Director
Chris Hanna, Atomic Design.
Editorial Advisory Board
Horacio Capote, M.D.
Sheila Flavin, M.S., R.D.
Philip Haberstro
Shelley Hirshberg, M.A. HSA
Peter Ostrow, M.D., Ph.D
Sylvia Regalla, M.D., MSCN
Nicole Urdang, MS, NCC, DMH
