MD Esthetician key terms

The legally defined set of services and procedures an esthetician may perform under a Maryland license, such as skin care, makeup, and temporary hair removal, plus the tasks the law prohibits.

Official authorization from the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists allowing a person to practice esthetics legally after meeting education, examination, and application requirements; working without it is unlawful.

The regulatory body that licenses estheticians, sets salon and school standards, investigates complaints, and enforces state cosmetology law through inspections, fines, and disciplinary action.

Routine cleaning that removes dirt, oil, and visible debris from surfaces and tools, lowering the number of microorganisms. It is a lower level of control than disinfection and does not kill all pathogens.

Using an EPA-registered chemical on nonporous implements and surfaces to destroy most harmful microorganisms, including many bacteria and viruses, though generally not bacterial spores.

A process that destroys all microbial life, including spores, usually through an autoclave. In esthetics it is reserved for items that contact broken skin or blood.

Infection-control practices that treat all blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious, requiring gloves and other barriers regardless of whether a client appears ill.

A standardized document supplied with a chemical product that lists its hazards, safe handling, first-aid measures, and storage needs. A copy must be kept for each product in use.

An item such as metal, glass, or hard plastic that does not absorb liquids and can be disinfected or sterilized; porous items like towels and sponges cannot be reliably disinfected.

The outermost, avascular layer of the skin, made of layered epithelial cells. It forms the protective barrier, contains melanocytes, and renews itself through cell division at its base.

The middle skin layer beneath the epidermis, built of collagen and elastin fibers. It holds blood vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles and gives skin strength and elasticity.

The deepest skin layer, also called the hypodermis, made of fat and connective tissue. It insulates the body, absorbs shock, and anchors skin to underlying muscle and bone.

The outermost sublayer of the epidermis, composed of flattened, keratin-filled dead cells that create the skin's main barrier against water loss and outside irritants.

A cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin, the pigment giving skin and hair color and helping protect against ultraviolet radiation.

An oil-producing gland usually attached to a hair follicle. Its sebum lubricates skin and hair, and overactivity contributes to oily skin and acne.

A classification of a client's baseline skin behavior, typically normal, dry, oily, or combination, based on oil production, pore size, and texture, used to select appropriate products.

A six-level rating of skin pigmentation and its response to ultraviolet light, used to estimate sunburn and pigmentation risk and to guide treatment intensity.

The central facial area formed by the forehead, nose, and chin, where sebaceous glands are most concentrated and oiliness is usually greatest.

A blocked pore filled with sebum and dead cells. An open comedo is a blackhead; a closed comedo is a whitehead that stays beneath the skin surface.

A condition or circumstance that makes a treatment unsafe or inadvisable for a client, such as active infection, recent surgery, or use of certain medications.

Localized skin inflammation caused by direct contact with an irritant or allergen, producing redness, itching, and sometimes blisters. Products triggering it should be discontinued.

A skin abnormality that appears first and changes little, such as a macule, papule, vesicle, or pustule. Primary lesions are used to identify and describe skin disorders.

Enlargement of tissue, often describing thickened skin such as a callus or keratoma. It is a common reason to avoid exfoliation and extraction over the affected area.

A scale from 0 to 14 measuring acidity or alkalinity. Skin's natural pH is slightly acidic, near 4.5 to 5.5, and products far outside that range can disrupt the barrier.

A molecule that draws oil and water together, allowing cleansers to lift sebum and dirt from the skin so it can be rinsed away.

An ingredient that attracts and holds water in the skin, such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid, improving hydration and plumping the surface layers.

An ingredient that softens and smooths skin by filling spaces between surface cells and slowing water loss, usually an oil, butter, or fatty ester.

Removing dead cells from the skin surface by mechanical or chemical means, revealing smoother texture and improving product absorption. Overuse can irritate skin and damage the barrier.

Manual removal of comedones and trapped sebum from pores using gentle pressure with fingers or a tool after the skin has been cleansed and softened.

A light, gliding facial massage stroke performed in the direction of muscle and lymph flow, used to begin and end a massage and to spread product.

Temporary hair removal by applying warm or hard wax to the skin, letting it set, then pulling it off against the direction of hair growth to remove hair from the follicle.

A chemical product, usually containing thioglycolate, that dissolves hair at the skin surface. It is a temporary method and requires a patch test before use.

A small application of a product on a discreet area of skin, observed for a set time before full treatment, to detect an allergic or irritant reaction.

A client's agreement to a treatment after being told its purpose, benefits, risks, alternatives, and cost. It should be documented in writing before the service begins.

Rules describing how colors combine and neutralize one another, used in makeup to match foundation and correct discoloration with complementary shades.

A structured review of a client's health history, lifestyle, and visible skin condition, completed before service, that identifies needs, allergies, and conditions affecting treatment choices.