AL Esthetician flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Disinfection

Use of an EPA-registered chemical to destroy most pathogenic microorganisms on nonporous surfaces and implements, but not bacterial spores, and only after visible debris is removed.

Sterilization

Process that destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores and viruses, using methods such as autoclave steam under pressure; reserved for implements that may contact broken skin.

Standard precautions

Infection-control approach in which every client's blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin are treated as potentially infectious regardless of known health status.

Single-use items

Porous or disposable supplies such as cotton, sponges, wooden applicators, and styptic pencils that cannot be reliably disinfected and must be discarded after one client.

Stratum basale

Deepest epidermal layer of a single row of columnar cells where mitosis occurs; it contains melanocytes and Merkel cells and rests on the basement membrane.

Acid mantle

Thin surface film of sebum, sweat, and lipids at pH about 4.5 to 5.5 that limits bacterial growth and maintains barrier and enzyme function.

Papillary layer

Upper dermal layer of loose connective tissue that forms fingerprints and contains capillaries, lymph vessels, and nerve endings supplying the epidermis.

Melanocytes

Cells in the stratum basale that produce melanin inside melanosomes and transfer it to keratinocytes, giving color and shielding cell nuclei from UV damage.

Macule

Flat, nonpalpable area of altered skin color such as a freckle or lentigo; it is a primary lesion with no elevation or depression.

Comedo

Hair follicle plugged with sebum and keratin cells; open comedones are blackheads, closed comedones are whiteheads, and inflamed lesions should never be squeezed.

Contagious condition

Disease transmissible person to person, such as impetigo, herpes simplex, conjunctivitis, tinea, or scabies; service is refused and the client is referred to a physician.

Fitzpatrick scale

Six-category classification of skin response to ultraviolet light; higher types have more melanin, lower burn risk, but higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Intake form

Written questionnaire documenting medications, allergies, pregnancy, medical history, and prior cosmetic treatments; reviewed and updated before each service to screen contraindications.

Wood's lamp

Ultraviolet light device used in skin analysis; blue-white indicates healthy skin, violet dehydration, yellow oiliness, brown pigmentation, and coral-pink acne bacteria.

Skin type versus condition

Type is the inherited oil-and-water balance that rarely changes; condition is a temporary state such as dehydration or sensitivity, so treatment plans must address both separately.

Effleurage

Light, continuous gliding massage stroke performed with palms and fingers, used to open and close a facial and to move lymph toward drainage nodes.

Desincrustation

Galvanic-current facial procedure using a negative pole and an alkaline solution to soften sebum and keratin in follicles before comedone extraction.

Chemical peel depth

Superficial peels using AHAs or low-percentage BHA affect only the epidermis; deeper peels reach the dermis and fall outside typical esthetician scope of practice.

Clay mask

Mask of kaolin, bentonite, or other absorbent clays that draws out surface oil and debris; suited to oily and combination skin and removed before it fully dries.

Anagen phase

Active growth stage of the hair cycle lasting months to years, during which the follicle produces a new hair shaft and hair is most resistant to removal.

Hard wax

Stripless wax applied thickly in the direction of hair growth and removed against it once set, gripping short hairs; suited to sensitive areas like the upper lip and bikini.

Sugaring paste

Water, sugar, and lemon paste applied against hair growth and removed with the growth direction; water-soluble, used at room temperature, and reusable on the same client.

Brow golden ratio

Brow-mapping rule placing the start above the inner canthus, the arch above the outer iris, and the end where a line from nostril to outer canthus meets the brow.

Cyanoacrylate adhesive

Main ingredient of eyelash extension glue that polymerizes with moisture; cures best at 45 to 60 percent humidity and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius and can cause allergic reaction.

Lash curl types

Extension curl designations J, B, C, D, and L, ranging from straightest to most curved; the choice depends on the client's natural lash direction and desired lift.

Color correction

Makeup principle of canceling an unwanted tone with its opposite on the color wheel, for example green on redness, peach on blue, and yellow on purple.

Humectant

Ingredient such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid that binds and holds water in the upper skin layers, increasing hydration without adding oil.

Emulsion

Mixture of oil and water stabilized by an emulsifier; oil-in-water emulsions feel light while water-in-oil emulsions feel heavier and more protective.

Occlusive

Ingredient like petrolatum or dimethicone that forms a physical barrier on the skin surface, reducing transepidermal water loss rather than adding water.

Glycolic acid

Smallest alpha hydroxy acid, water soluble and derived from sugar cane; it penetrates quickly to exfoliate dead corneocytes and works best at pH 3 to 4.

Scope of practice

Legal boundary of an esthetician's services, covering cleansing and cosmetic treatments, hair removal, makeup, and lashes, but never diagnosing, prescribing, or treating disease.

Informed consent

Client's voluntary agreement after being told the nature, benefits, risks, and alternatives of a service, documented before treatments such as peels, waxing, or lash extensions.