Korean J Dermatol.  2008 Sep;46(9):1149-1154.

A Survey on the Mode of Working of Estheticians in OECD Member Nations andSome Asian Countries in Relation to Medical Service

• Jeong CW
• Hann SK
• Huh CH
• Song HJ

Abstract

In 2008, Korea has enacted new ordinances about the role of estheticians, but this law can be interpreted ambiguously, restricting hiring of estheticians in medical clinics. The purpose of the study is to obtain information about medical-esthetic systems in other countries. We have taken a survey of this object from 30 OECD & Asian countries, and the questionnaires returned from a total of 22 countries (Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Israel, and Thailand), were used for the final analysis. The results are summarized as follows. In most countries, estheticians working independently deal with only healthy, normal skin. In most countries, estheticians working independently have no right to operate any medical instruments. In all 17 countries that returned the questionnaires medical clinics can employ estheticians, and only theses estheticians who belong to the medical clinics can handle the non-invasive medical instruments under the supervision of doctors. In 17 countries that have related legal regulations, nurses, under the control of doctors, can perform wider range of duties in various settings than estheticians. The survey concludes that the duties of estheticians are closely related with medical skin care services and estheticians can perform various non-invasive medical procedures only under the control of doctors. From consulting a variety of medical-esthetic systems in other countries, we propose that the estheticians be allowed to work in medical clinics to provide better medical services for the patients and to make more chances of employment for themselves.

Keyword

Esthetician; Medical instrument; Medical skin care; Working mode

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Austria
Canada
Denmark
Employment
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Humans
Hungary
Israel
Japan
Jurisprudence
Korea
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Organization and Administration
Portugal
Questionnaires
Singapore
Skin
Skin Care
Slovakia
Social Control, Formal
Spain
Switzerland
Turkey
United States