Skin problems are something that a lot of people have to deal with on a regular basis, often in varying degrees, from minor irritations and acne to serious problems that may impact other areas of your health. Often compounding this is the fact that many skin problems have a clear visual element, leading sufferers often feel self-conscious or lose confidence. In order to avoid having to deal with these issues, it’s always best to be proactive and reach out to a skin care professional for additional help and special procedures. This isn’t just about repairing damaged skin, but also about learning how skin works to understand how to better maintain it on your own.
However, people with skin problems may often deal with options paralysis at first. Not only are there lots of procedures out there to choose from, but also a lot of different types of professionals to work with. Understanding who you have to work with in this regard and what separates them apart can make the challenge of getting skin care help less daunting-especially for first-timers.
Explaining Your Options
The easiest way to break down your choices for skin care help is to sort them into three main categories: dermatology, cosmetology, and esthetics. Dermatology is a formal medical position, and a dermatologist in Pleasanton is a licensed physician who handles skin disorders and other problems. Esthetics is fundamentally different because diagnosis, prescriptions, and other practices that require a medical license are off-limits. However, if you are seeing a dermatologist as well, an esthetician may be able to provide complementary therapies to support their efforts. In addition, estheticians are also trained to recognize the early signs of different medical conditions that impact the skin. As a result, if you need advanced care, an esthetician may refer you to a dermatologist in Placerville.
Cosmetology, by comparison, is the greater field of studying beauty treatments. This includes hair care and nail care on top of skin care. Some estheticians may combine their work on skin care with work in other areas.
Different Treatments
Different treatments are offered based on the skill level of the professional you’re working with. For example, if you’re looking into a chemical peel, you will need to see a formal dermatologist. This is an exfoliation process that works with a variety of different potential skin problems, from aging to acne to mild scarring to skin damage. As a bonus, it also improves the overall brightness of the skin and skin tone.
This process has a variety of different intensities based on your needs, and either require minimal down time from work and activities or up to a week for the skin to fully heal. It’s important that only dermatologists practice deep chemical peels for your safety.
By comparison, there are treatments that are more popular with estheticians, like the facial. This has a number of uses, including supporting the skin as well as serving as a general diagnostic to try and understand your skin conditions before going into more aggressive treatments. Your average facial will include makeup removal, skin cleansing, before going into a lighter exfoliation treatment. In some cases, there may be steaming and extractions, and even facial massages added on. On average, you can have a facial every four weeks, but some professionals may recommend otherwise based on your needs.
When it comes to looking at potential treatments, there isn’t a “right” or “wrong option.” Your skin therapist will help you find the best option based on your needs and preferences.
Finding Care
While cosmetic treatments may be very different than the work that your dermatologist does, there are a few elements that all skin care practitioners share, mainly in the process of getting care. For example, most skin care professionals will recommend that you schedule a consultation prior to any treatment, especially if you are new to this. The main goal here is for you and your professional to understand the full scope of your problems, as well as set together long-term and short-term goals and expectations for treatments. Many people get skin care expecting a certain result, not fully understanding that all our bodies are different and require different approaches when it comes to care.
Generally, consultations begin with an in-depth intake form, even if you’ve already shared some of your symptoms or problems over the phone. The main goal here is to try and get as concrete an example of what you need as possible. Along with this, a dermatologist may do a general skin analysis in order to get biological information about your skin and its needs. With the information you and your body provide, your skin therapist or dermatologist has all the tools they need to create a treatment plan that fits your needs. This can include both procedures they perform as well as recommendations for products to use at home.
We should take some extra time to mention home care. Especially for cosmetic treatments, but in any skin treatment regimen, a major component in seeing consistent improvement is developing proper home care. The good news is that you have a professional in your corner to provide recommendations and guidance. However, you ultimately need to follow through with the instructions, the same as you would for medical or dental care.
Now, when it comes to your finding that professional help, you always want to make sure that you work with a properly trained individual. Never be afraid to ask, whether you are looking at an esthetician or a dermatologist in Cameron Park, about key facts regarding their background, experience and training, especially regarding the treatment that you need. The good news here is that it’s easier than ever for you to find the resources you need to get this information. With a properly trained professional and a regimen designed for you, you’ve set the stage for helping to get healthier skin.
Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.