Skin care modalities focus on restoring and maintaining the health and appearance of skin. There are two main branches of skin care services, dermatology and esthetics.
Dermatology is a branch of the medical profession, practiced by licensed physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin.
Esthetic practice includes spa services, like facials, and specifically excludes diagnosis, prescription or any other service, procedure, or therapy that requires a medical license. Estheticians are trained to recognize signs of many medical conditions affecting the skin and will refer to dermatologists as needed.
