No. Moles, cysts and suspicious lesions are outside esthetic practice. They should be assessed by a physician or dermatologist. Estheticians treat appropriate benign cosmetic concerns, such as skin tags, milia and cherry angiomas.
Deciding whether a mole or lesion is harmless requires assessment by a physician. Treating a mole cosmetically could hide changes a doctor needs to see. That is why any spot that is changing, irregular, bleeding or unusual is referred first.
With proper training and equipment, an esthetician can cosmetically treat appropriate benign concerns such as skin tags, milia, cherry angiomas, seborrheic keratoses and sebaceous hyperplasia, after assessing each one.
Esthetics in British Columbia was regulated under the provincial Cosmetologists Act until the Act was repealed on December 31, 2003. Since then, no licence or certification has been required to work as an esthetician, and no esthetics title is regulated or protected. Liza James earned her esthetics college diploma and licence in 2000, under the former provincial standard; BBB has verified her diploma.
Estheticians, whatever title they use, are not regulated health professionals and do not diagnose skin conditions. Under the regulations of BC’s Health Professions Act, making a diagnosis and performing procedures on tissue below the dermis are restricted activities reserved for regulated health professionals such as physicians. Removing moles and cysts is therefore outside esthetic practice. Read more about scope of practice in BC.
At Cantik, referring is part of the standard. Esthetics is not a regulated healthcare profession in British Columbia, so choose a provider who is clear about their limits and will tell you when something needs a doctor.
Related: The Precision Standard · Policies & FAQ · All articles
Contact LizaCosmetic esthetic information only, not a substitute for advice from your physician. Results vary.