Non-medical cosmetology relies mainly on embellishment. Various cosmetics are used to cover up undesired appearances, or to enhance features in the absence of perceived defects, for example, covering up tiny flaws or spots on the face with foundation cream, or making the cheeks bright and red with rouge. Along with social progress and improvement of living standards, demand for cosmetic services has increased. The contemporary beauty parlor is not limited to embellishment, but also cares for the skin,hair, and physical condition, and may even treat some skin diseases such as soot black macules and acne, and help address obesity. With the development of cosmetology,beauticians are increasingly concerned about the guiding role of medical science. They continuously derive knowledge of scientific cosmetology from the theories and methods of both Chinese and Western medicine, so that beauty services go beyond the range of mere embellishment into the realm of health care.

Medical cosmetology as a branch of modern medicine seeks to protect, restore, and create beauty, enhance vitality, and improve quality of life by use of medical means.It is a product of the integration of medicine, aesthetics, and cosmetic techniques. In February 2002, the Medical Cosmetic Service Management Approach issued by the Chinese Ministry of Health, described medical cosmetology as “referring to the repair and remodeling of the appearance and the configuration of the body by use of surgery, drugs,medical devices, and other medical technology and methods”. Medical cosmetology covers a range of subjects, including medical aesthetics, medical aesthetics psychology,cosmetic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic skin science, and cosmetic Chinese medicine.

The common characteristics of non-medical cosmetology and medical cosmetology include the basic purpose of enhancing the body, guided by aesthetic theory and use of the same services for conservation of the skin and body. They often learn from each other.

The differences between medical cosmetology and non-medical cosmetics are as follows:

Medical cosmetology uses medical treatment, such as drugs, surgery, medical equipment, and so on to treat beauty-impairing diseases or rectify beauty-impairing physical defects. Medical instruments are prohibited in non-medical cosmetology,which may only use non-invasive physical methods.

Medical cosmetologists are certified doctors or nurses with medical cosmetology training, while non-medical cosmetologists are beauticians.

The treatments used in medical cosmetology are more complex and more difficult,with strict rules for use of the equipment, whereas non-medical cosmetology is simpler.

TCM cosmetology is an important component of contemporary Chinese cosmetology medicine. The Medical Cosmetic Service Management Approach issued by the Chinese Ministry of Health describes medical cosmetology as an A clinic subject, and cosmetic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic dermatology, and cosmetic Chinese medicine as B clinic subjects.

When it comes to cosmetic treatments, TCM cosmetology, as a branch of medical cosmetology, is strictly differentiated from non-medical cosmetology, and they must not be confused. TCM cosmetology, besides herbs, acupuncture, and other purely medical means, uses many other non-invasive and natural health-enhancing methods such as diet, massage, exercise, and herbal cosmetics. Strict training and a grasp of basic of TCM is all that is needed to apply these methods, instead of a systematic and rigorous medical education, so these methods could be adopted by non-medical cosmetology and carried out in non-medical beauty salons. Therefore, there are strict distinctions and a close relationship between TCM cosmetology and non-medical cosmetology.

TCM cosmetology is a booming subject in TCM, differentiated from and combined with various basic and clinical subjects, and inevitably has a close relationship to its mother subjects.

TCM cosmetology aims to keep fitness and appearance. The theory of visceral manifestation in TCM holds that the internal organs closely relate to the tissues on the surface, the four extremities, and the skeleton. This means that to keep a beautiful physical appearance, besides the use of adornment, basic regulation of the whole body is indispensable. Various means are used comprehensively to achieve cosmetic purposes by mobilizing positive factors within the body, inextricably linking TCM cosmetology to TCM theory. TCM cosmetology relates to the basic theory of Chinese medicine,Chinese pharmacy, Chinese pharmacology, Chinese medical formulas, channel and collateral theory, acupuncture points, Chinese nutrition, and Chinese health preservation. Clinically,TCM cosmetology relates to Chinese dermatology, Chinese internal medicine, Chinese ophthalmology, Chinese gynecology, acupuncture and moxibustion, tui na, Chinese qi gong,and other subjects. Those basic subjects and clinical subjects are the mother subjects of TCM cosmetology, laying foundation for it with their development.

During its long history, TCM has been enriched and developed by constantly absorbing foreign ideas. These ideas provide Chinese medicine with fresh blood, so to speak, and keep the medicine vital by absorbing the best that Western medicine offered.TCM cosmetology has also learned from Western medicine in such subjects as human anatomy, histology and embryology, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, biochemistry,microbiology, parasitology, dermatology, surgery, ophthalmology, stomatology, and others.

Because the object of TCM cosmetology is fitness, it closely relates to some social and human subjects, such as medical aesthetics (including Chinese medical aesthetics),cosmetic medical psychology, art, color theory, cosmetics, and other subjects.