Skin Analysis, Disorders, and Facial Treatments
Analysis
Begin with visual inspection and palpation, then a structured consultation: skin type (normal, dry, oily, combination), condition (acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, aging, dehydration, sensitivity), Fitzpatrick phototype, and barrier status. Skin type is relatively stable; conditions change and may be temporary. Dehydration is water loss and can affect oily skin; dryness is lack of oil. Do not diagnose.
Disorders and lesions
Know primary lesions (macule, papule, pustule, vesicle, nodule, wheal) and secondary lesions (scale, crust, fissure, scar, excoriation). Contraindications include active infection, open lesions, recent surgery, sunburn, uncontrolled diabetes, and contagious conditions. Refer suspicious, changing, or bleeding lesions.
Treatment design
Cleanse, exfoliate cautiously, perform extractions only on noninflamed comedones, massage, mask, moisturize, and protect with SPF. Match products to the condition and avoid over-exfoliation. Document products, reactions, and home care.
Traps
Questions confuse skin type with condition, call all flakes “dry skin,” or allow extractions on inflamed cystic acne. Redness is not automatically rosacea. A client with an active cold sore should be rescheduled, not treated around.
Rule of thumb
If a lesion is new, changing, bleeding, painful, or asymmetric, stop and refer. If the skin is inflamed, less is more.