Should You See A Dermatologist Or An Esthetician? Here's How To Know

Whether your goal is to treat acne, encourage healthy aging, or combat a sudden bout of irritation, the problems you can run into with your skin sometimes call for an expert opinion. So which expert should you consult? Well, we asked them both so you never have to wonder again and get the help you need that much faster. Who doesn't love efficiency? 

Celebrity esthetician, founder, and CEO of Artisan of Skin Beverly Hills Sharlena Hassani compares it to exercise: "An esthetician is a personal trainer that you see on a scheduled basis to both whip your skin into shape and then maintain your results," she tells mbg, "whereas a dermatologist is a doctor you see to handle medical conditions. Both of us are skin care specialists, just in different ways." 

From there, you can decide if you want to continue scheduling regular appointments or if you want to take their product recommendations and try at-home treatment instead (given that monthly or seasonal facials can get pretty pricey). But remember, not everything is safe to DIY. There are many beauty treatments that shouldn't be done at home (ahem, extractions) and truly are best left to the experts.

So, if you're looking for general upkeep of the skin, estheticians are a perfect resource. But if you're having specific skin issues, you might want to head to the dermatologist to get them checked out. "You'll need to be actively presenting symptoms for [dermatologists] to diagnose you," said Katie Sobelman, organic esthetician and skin care educator.

Dermatologists are skin masters as well, but in a different way—these pros can work with your skin on a deeper level than estheticians. Furthermore, dermatologists can do a few things that estheticians cannot, including diagnosing skin conditions, prescribing oral medication and prescription-strength topicals, and performing surgery on the skin. In addition to treating more severe skin conditions, dermatologists can also perform cosmetic, in-office procedures.

Remember: Although dermatologists and estheticians treat the skin in different ways, you don't need to pick one or the other. "While estheticians and dermatologists are both experts in the skin, they have different areas of expertise and can therefore serve different functions," says Courtney Rubin, M.D., MBE, FAAD, chief medical officer and co-founder of Fig.1 Beauty. "It's not uncommon for patients to have an esthetician that they trust with skin maintenance and a dermatologist that they see regularly for acute and long-term care."

Of course, not everyone has access to both dermatologists and estheticians, so whatever is accessible to you will be helpful to the health of your skin no matter what—and the most important part of consulting any professional is finding one that you trust. In addition, there are countless online resources to teach you about skin care best practices, including ingredients, treatments, and lifestyle choices that can affect your skin health.