Skin Nurse vs Beauty Therapist
What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
In Hervey Bay, we’re lucky to have so many professionals who care about skin health, from beauty therapists to skin nurses like myself.
We often get asked, “What’s the difference between seeing a skin nurse and seeing a beauty therapist?”
The short answer is: both help your skin — just in different ways.
A beauty therapist focuses on keeping your skin looking and feeling its best on the surface. A skin nurse takes things a step further, working clinically to correct, heal, and support your skin’s health from within.
Why Both Roles Matter
Beauty therapists are often the first to help someone feel good about their skin. They play an important part in confidence and self-care. I also visit my trusted therapist for self-care.
As a skin nurse, my role is to step in when your skin needs more targeted care. When we’re looking at treating the cause, not just the surface.
The best outcomes come when we work together.
A trusted beauty therapist can help you maintain your results between clinical treatments, while a nurse-led clinic like The Dermal Clinic can correct underlying conditions, monitor changes, and ensure treatments are safe and effective.
Healthy skin isn’t about choosing one over the other, it’s about knowing when each professional can help you the most.
| Skin Nurse (Registered Nurse) | Beauty Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Training | Registered Nurse with dermal science and laser safety qualifications, compliant with AHPRA standards for infection control and safety. | Qualified through a Certificate IV or Diploma in Beauty Therapy, focusing on beauty and wellness treatments to support healthy skin. |
| Main Focus | Skin health and function — assessing, treating, and managing concerns such as acne, pigmentation, rosacea, scarring, and redness. | Skin maintenance — helping clients look and feel refreshed through facials, peels, waxing, tinting, and relaxation treatments. |
| How We Work | Uses medical-grade devices such as lasers, IPL, LED therapy, and SkinPen microneedling. Each treatment plan is evidence-based and guided by medical history. | Works on the outer layers of the skin with cosmetic-grade products and treatments that maintain a healthy barrier and glow. |
| Client Safety | Trained to recognise skin cancers, infections, or contraindications, and to refer to a GP or specialist if needed. | Works within cosmetic boundaries and refers clients for medical concerns when appropriate. |
| Goal | To restore, repair, and strengthen the skin for long-term health. | To refresh, nurture, and maintain the skin’s surface for day-to-day confidence. |
| Working Together | Complements the work of beauty therapists by offering advanced, results-driven treatments when deeper intervention is needed. | Supports the work of skin nurses by maintaining skin health between clinical treatments. |