Client Consultation and Skin Analysis
Intake first
The consultation protects the client and you. Collect a health history, medications, allergies, prior cosmetic procedures, products used at home, sun exposure, and pregnancy status. Ask about expectations and past reactions. Obtain signed informed consent, note anything requiring referral, and explain what the service will and will not do.
Determine skin type and condition
Skin type is genetic and relatively fixed - normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive - and is often paired with the Fitzpatrick scale (I–VI) to estimate sun sensitivity and pigmentation risk. Condition is what you see today: dehydration, congestion, erythema, post-inflammatory pigmentation, aging. Confusing type with condition is a frequent exam trap.
Analysis technique
Cleanse and dry the skin first, then examine under bright light with a magnifying lamp, using gloves and tissues. A Wood's lamp can help distinguish surface hydration (blue-white), pigmentation (brown), and porphyrin activity in congested follicles (coral-red fluorescence). Interpret cautiously; the lamp is an aid, not a diagnosis.
Close the loop
Summarize findings, confirm the plan, patch test when indicated (24–48 hours for tints, waxes, and new products), document everything, and give simple home-care recommendations with rebooking.
Rule of thumb: consult, cleanse, analyze, then treat - analysis before cleansing gives you a false reading because makeup and sunscreen mask the barrier.