By Amy Chalmers | January 2012
Consumer interest in cosmetic skin treatments is on the rise and with traditional technology and the tools of the trade becoming cheaper and more widely available, there are now an unprecedented number of businesses looking to capitalize on this growing demand. In downtown Vancouver, for instance, finding a skin-oriented spa or clinic is almost as easy as finding the next Starbucks. And while more service providers means more choice for consumers, an unregulated industry like the cosmetic skincare business can quickly give rise to the problem of widely varied qualifications among practitioners and, ultimately, vast differences in service quality—differences which may not be apparent to the average consumer until it’s too late.
Why qualifications matter when it comes to skin treatment
Some of today’s most widely available skincare treatments encroach to a surprising degree into the medical realm and the lines that distinguish spa treatments from medical treatments are increasingly blurred. Given this, there is an urgent need for skin practitioners and consumers alike to be more accountable and better educated than ever before. Today’s skin professionals need to possess a thorough understanding of skin anatomy, physiology and the pathologies of several common skin concerns in order to perform accurate assessments and give a valid diagnosis.
When you are serious about finding solutions to your skincare problems you should seek the advice of a practitioner with a background in advanced skin biology and cosmeceutical science. These qualifications will allow your practitioner to understand the exact relationship between what goes into your tissues and the results you achieve, as well as to identify any contra-indications or unique considerations that might apply to your particular case.
So, how do you determine if a practitioner is right for you?
By asking questions—education, qualifications and industry experience are good places to start. Look for qualifications that have international industry recognition and government accreditation. Find out which treatments your practitioner considers to be within the scope of their practice and which they see as being out of their area of expertise—and before accepting any suggestion for products or treatments always ask:
“What will this product or treatment do and how will it achieve this?”
Some treatments produce dramatic but temporary results, while others produce long-term change but take longer to manifest. A knowledgeable practitioner will know and explain the differences and will only make recommendations that align with your personal goals. Don’t settle for vague or generic answers: it is not enough for your practitioner to reply with “…it stimulates collagen.”
All recommendations should be backed up with thorough and in-depth explanations as to how products do what they do, what you can expect to experience during and after treatments, what the signs of success will be and what signs—if any—might be cause for concern.
Your skin therapist is answerable to you for these questions and any others you may have. You should feel comfortable with the answers and confident in your therapist’s knowledge and abilities before going ahead with any product or treatment recommendation.
A good practitioner will keep your patronage by helping you attain your goal of strong, healthy and resilient skin—and not by cultivating a dependence on their services! Choosing your practitioner based on qualifications and experience can mean the difference between having a skin treatment and having your skin transformed.
For more information, visit www.naturalskinsolutions.ca. Call today to book a one-hour complimentary skin health assessment (604) 630-6855.
