You may have wondered before, is there actually a difference between a dermal therapist and a beauty therapist? Well we can confirm that yes, there certainly is! Below we explain what the differences are.

What is a Dermal Therapist?

A dermal therapist is someone who specialises in skin management along with non-surgical treatments that can aid chronic and acute skin diseases, disorders and conditions.  They can perform therapies such as injectables, fat transfers and dermal fillers. The type of education for a dermal therapist is broad. Studies include wound and skin biology, dermatological conditions and their management. Dermal therapists undergo studies within the fields of chemistry, general anatomy and physiology, physics and all other systems within the body that can impact the health of your skin. The skin health problems that are associated with the different diseases and disorders. A dermal therapist will have qualifications at a bachelor degree level. 

Many patients are referred to a dermal therapist by their medical professional such as a plastic surgeon, endocrinologists and dermatologists. However, patients do not need to get a referral from their doctor to see a dermal clinician. The dermal therapists have a focus on skin health education, public health and preventative programs. Dermal therapists can do an assessment and manage the risks that are connected with tissue interactions and advanced therapies to make sure that certain treatments are safe for patients.

What is a beauty therapist?

Beauty therapists are driven by their professional desire to make people feel and look great. They are the experts in body care and facials with a strong knowledge of cosmetic chemistry and skin biology. Beauty therapists offer a range of non-medical customised services fit to the desires of the client. The main services include make-up, massage, lash and brow treatments, pedicures, hair removals, facials and manicures. In the industry, there are different opportunities to specialise in certain treatments such as hair removal or spa therapy.

Beauty therapists tend to be more flexible and laid back. If you want a fun lifestyle with flexible working hours, then a beauty therapist might be the option for you. You can work on your own as an independent therapist, or within a salon or spa environment. You can choose to be available at certain times if you decide to run your own business. The qualification level comes as a formal qualification within the field of dermal therapy. The therapist is officially accredited as a professional when they can perform procedures such as skin needling, intense pulse light, microdermabrasion, fotona laser and chemical peels.

The training that occurs between a beauty therapist and a dermal therapist will vary drastically, and they will end up having different responsibilities in a beauty salon. A beauty therapist has less formal training and concentrates more on the beauty treatments that are more superficial like massage, nails and facials. The title Dermal Therapist is currently unregulated, and some operators are using this title for their commercial advantage. Dermal therapists are not the same as a paramedical aesthetician and beauty therapists as they have the right training in the specific field of dermal therapy. The practice for a dermal therapist includes giving out advice that is about the medical procedures or surgical aspects of the post and pre-operative care, practice management, doctors’ assistant, and administration.