Why should I see an esthetician?
Esthetics is the application of various treatments to the skin, to maintain its health and vitality. Estheticians are trained in skin wellness, helping their clients balance oil and moisture content and achieve a healthy, youthful complexion. As well as various facial treatments (described in more detail below), they commonly also perform body treatments such as salt or sugar scrubs, moisturizing or slenderizing body wraps, hair removal techniques such as waxing or threading, and hand/foot treatments to rejuvenate the skin.

A variety of treatments and products are used to protect skin from environmental hazards and combat fine lines, wrinkles, and a dull, uneven skin tone. Estheticians are also skilled in managing conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and dry skin, to name just a few. And finally, skin care treatments are wonderfully relaxing and rejuvenating. If smooth, healthy skin is your goal, visiting a skin care professional can benefit you.

What’s the difference between dermatology, cosmetology, and esthetics?
Dermatology is a branch of the medical profession, practiced by licensed physicians who specialize in disorders of the skin. Esthetic practice specifically excludes diagnosis, prescription, or any other service, procedure, or therapy that requires a medical license. If you’re being treated by a dermatologist, your esthetician can provide complementary and support therapies. In addition, estheticians are trained to recognize early signs of many medical conditions affecting the skin, and will refer you to a dermatologist in such a case.

Cosmetology is the study of beauty treatments including nail care, hair care and styling, makeup application, skin care and more. Esthetics is one branch of cosmetology; some estheticians work in other branches of cosmetology in addition to their skin care practice.

Techniques and products
Techniques used by estheticians include facial steaming, wrapping, exfoliation, waxing, pore cleansing, extraction, and chemical peels. Creams, lotions, wraps, clay or gel masks, and salt scrubs are used. Machines may also be used to help deliver high-tech services.

Some common therapies:

• Facial: A facial is the most popular treatment performed by estheticians. It is a good way for your therapist to get a good understanding of your skin prior to suggesting more aggressive treatments. A facial generally includes makeup removal and skin cleansing, exfoliation by mechanical, enzymatic or chemical means, steaming, extractions, facial massage, a treatment mask, serum/moisturizer and sunblock. For most people, facials can be scheduled every four weeks, although your therapist may recommend a different schedule based on your individual needs.
• Exfoliation: The removal of dead skin cells manually (scrubbing, brushing, or using a system such as microdermabrasion), with a chemical peel (a product that causes dead skin cells to shed) or with an enzymatic product that digests dead skin cells.
• Microdermabrasion: The process of resurfacing the skin using a machine that sands the skin’s epidermal (outer) layer, using either a wand tipped with crushed diamonds, or a spray of special crystals which are then suctioned back up along with the dead skin cells. It can be very helpful in improving skin texture, fine lines and the effectiveness of home care product penetration.
• Dermaplaning: A deep manual exfoliation of the skin using a sterile surgical blade to gently remove dead skin from the epidermis. This service is a safe and quick way to improve the skin’s overall appearance and texture. This treatment leaves the skin soft and smooth with the added benefit of removing peach fuzz.
• Microneedling: Also known as collagen induction therapy and utilizes the body’s natural wound-healing process to create new collagen and elastin in the skin and restructure scar tissue. The treatment uses a sterile set of tiny needles to create micro-injuries and acute inflammation in the skin. This advanced skin treatment can create as much collagen as you lose in one whole year after just one treatment. As an intended side effect, the body’s natural wound-healing response is activated, and as part of that process, the stimulation of collagen and elastin is initiated within the layers of the skin. Microneedling can be done superficially or more aggressively, depending on the skin condition it addresses. This treatment is great for improving fine lines and wrinkles and creates results that can rival a mild laser resurfacing without the lengthy downtime associated with that service category. 
• Enzyme Peel: An exfoliant that provides glowier skin with cleaner pores, and reduced blackheads and blemishes. Safe for all skin types—and even pregnant women: Those whose skin gets easily irritated will find relief with enzyme peels. A gentler alternative to more "intense" treatments: Generally, with enzyme peels, you'll experience less irritation than you would with a chemical peel treatments—while still reaping major benefits. Most notably, you'll likely notice a boost in luminosity and hydration. Exfoliating will stimulate collagen production, resulting in improved texture as related to fine lines and wrinkles, as well as scars and overall plumper-looking skin.
• Chemical peel: An exfoliation process, very effective in treating a large range of skin concerns such as aging, sun damage, acne, mild scarring, improving overall skin brightness and evening skin tone. Peels can be light, moderate or deep. Light peels require no down time from work or normal activities. Moderate peels may require a day or two of down time, and deep peels can require a week or more to allow the skin to fully heal. Estheticians who are not working in a medical setting perform light to moderate peels only. Deep peels are performed by a physican, or under a physician’s supervision, for your safety. 
• Microcurrent: a non-invasive technology that gently tones the face for lasting, lifted results. Benefits from this treatment include anti-aging, skin-toning, increased collagen and elastin production, and increased blood flow. Microcurrent devices use low levels of safe, painless electrical impulses to the muscles in the face and neck. The overly-tightened muscles relax, and under-worked muscles regain their strength. In essence, microcurrent facial toning re-educates the facial muscles and helps to restore them back to their original shape. When this happens, the visible results are quite dramatic, and the face is lifted, firmed, and toned back to a much more youthful appearance. At the same time, the microcurrent improves circulation to stimulate the production of collagen, improves tone and texture, and improves or eliminates fine lines. With age, the muscles lose ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is the energy of the skin cells and muscle tissue. The skin starts to fall, and expression lines begin to develop, like the furrow between the eyebrows. The muscles on our face that are not used often begin to atrophy, which leads to sagging. Sagging around the jaw lines, chins, and neck are some examples of where muscle definition is lost as we age. Microcurrent is considered to be an all-natural solution to anti-aging. AKA; The No Needle Face Lift. 
• LED Red light therapy: Thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, doing things like repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work. Red light therapy may work in skin health to: Stimulate collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength and elasticity. Increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen. Collagen is a component of connective tissue that builds skin. Increase blood circulation to the tissue. Reduce inflammation in cells. Red light therapy is promoted as a treatment for some common skin conditions, including to: Improve wound healing. Reduce stretch marks. Reduce wrinkles, fine lines and age spots. Improve facial texture. Improve psoriasis, rosacea and eczema. Improve scars. Improve sun-damaged skin. Improve hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia. Improve acne.

Visiting an esthetician

It is always a good idea to schedule a consultation appointment prior to your first treatment, especially if you are new to esthetic treatments. This gives you and your therapist a chance to discuss your goals and expectations for the first visit, and long term goals for the future. During a consultation, your therapist will go over an extensive intake form, and most likely do a cleansing of the skin followed by a detailed skin analysis. This will give your therapist the information she/he needs to create an individualized treatment plan, both for a series of professional treatments and recommendations for products you can use at home.

What about home care?
Much of the success of maintaining a visible improvement after treatment depends on consistent, correct home care. Your esthetician is trained to select the products that will most benefit your skin, and to advise you on how to maintain your professional results between visits. Like medical or dental care, following the right daily regimen at home is essential if you are to get the most out of your visits to a professional.

Your esthetician
Your skin care treatments should be provided by a properly trained professional. Don’t hesitate to ask your skin care therapist about her background, training, and experience—especially as it relates to the treatment you are considering. Your therapist is a professional member of Associated Skin Care Professionals. Our members have been validated as meeting their state’s licensing credentials and/or core training requirements, and agree to follow a code of ethics which ensures you’ll be treated responsibly and with the utmost respect. ASCP also provides its members with comprehensive resources that allow them to keep up with changing trends, making certain you’ll receive the most up-to-date therapies available.