MI Esthetician key terms

The outermost layer of skin, made of stacked keratinocytes that continually renew themselves. It has no blood vessels and depends on the dermis below for nutrients.

The thick middle layer of skin beneath the epidermis. It contains collagen and elastin fibers, blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands, giving skin strength and elasticity.

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

A pigment-producing cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that makes melanin and transfers it to nearby keratinocytes, giving skin and hair their color and helping screen ultraviolet light.

An oil gland usually attached to a hair follicle that secretes sebum onto the skin surface, helping lubricate skin and hair; overactivity contributes to acne.

A sweat gland in the skin. Eccrine glands open directly onto the surface and cool the body; apocrine glands open into hair follicles and become active at puberty.

The slightly acidic film of sebum and sweat on the skin surface, typically around pH 4.5 to 5.5, that helps inhibit bacteria and maintain barrier function.

A hair follicle plugged with sebum and dead skin cells. An open comedone is a blackhead; a closed comedone is a whitehead, because the pore opening is covered by skin.

A small, solid, raised skin lesion without pus, usually under one centimeter across. In acne, an inflamed papule forms when a plugged follicle becomes irritated.

A chronic skin condition causing redness, flushing, and sometimes small bumps on the face, most often the cheeks and nose; it can be aggravated by heat, sun, and certain products.

A common fungal skin infection, such as ringworm or athlete's foot. It is contagious and is a reason to avoid treating the area or sharing tools.

A contagious viral infection that causes recurring cold sores or blisters, usually around the mouth. Active blisters are a contraindication to facial treatments in that area.

A six-level classification of skin type based on how skin responds to sun exposure, such as burning and tanning. Estheticians use it to plan treatments and select peel strengths.

The active growth phase of the hair growth cycle, when the hair shaft is produced. Hair removal is most effective when hairs are treated during this phase.

The first level of infection control: physically cleaning surfaces and tools with soap, water, and friction to remove visible soil, oil, and many microorganisms before disinfection.

The second level of infection control, using an EPA-registered product to kill most harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses on nonporous surfaces and implements after they have been cleaned.

The highest level of infection control, destroying all microorganisms including bacterial spores, usually with an autoclave. It is needed for items that penetrate skin or contact blood.

A product carrying an Environmental Protection Agency registration number and label claims for killing specific pathogens. In salons, only these products should be used to disinfect implements and surfaces.

The length of time a disinfectant must stay wet on a surface or tool to kill the organisms listed on its label. Tools must be immersed or kept wet for that full time.

The transfer of bacteria or viruses from one person, tool, or surface to another, often through shared implements, dirty hands, or reused linens. Proper disinfection and handwashing prevent it.

An infection-control approach in which all blood and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious, so gloves and other barriers are used with every client rather than only those who seem ill.

A standardized document supplied by a product manufacturer that lists hazards, safe handling, first-aid steps, and storage requirements for a chemical. It must be kept accessible in the workplace.

A device that uses high-pressure steam to sterilize metal implements and other heat-tolerant items, killing all microorganisms including spores. Regular monitoring confirms it is working properly.

A product or tool designed to be used on one client and then discarded, such as wooden applicators, cotton, and disposable spatulas. It must never be disinfected and reused.

A condition, medication, or circumstance that makes a treatment unsafe or inadvisable for a client. Estheticians identify these during consultation and may decline or modify the service.

A small test application of a product, such as a wax or tint, on a hidden area of skin to check for an allergic reaction before the full service. Results are read after a set waiting period.

The manual removal of comedones and trapped sebum from a follicle using fingers wrapped in tissue or a comedone extractor, typically after softening the skin with warmth and steam.

The removal of dead cells from the skin's surface by mechanical means, such as scrubs and brushes, or chemical means, such as acids and enzymes, to smooth and brighten skin.

A treatment that applies an acid solution, such as glycolic or salicylic acid, to loosen and remove surface skin cells. Estheticians are limited by law to superficial peels.

A direct electrical current used in facials. The positive pole is used for deep cleaning (desincrustation) and the negative pole for product penetration (iontophoresis).

A wax applied warm without a cloth strip and removed once it firms, gripping the hair rather than the skin. It is often used on sensitive areas like the face and bikini line.

The amount added to the cost of a product or service to set its selling price. A common retail standard doubles the wholesale cost, though salon owners may choose different targets.

The specific group of clients a business aims to serve, defined by factors such as age, location, budget, and skin concerns. Marketing and service menus are built around them.

A measure of how quickly retail and back-bar products sell and are replaced, found by dividing cost of goods sold by average inventory. Slow turnover ties up cash and risks expired products.

The range of services and procedures a license legally allows a professional to perform. For Michigan estheticians this includes skin care, hair removal by waxing, and makeup, but not medical diagnosis.

A credential issued by a state agency that gives a person legal permission to practice a regulated profession. In Michigan, estheticians are licensed through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

A client's agreement to a service after being told what it involves, its risks and benefits, and alternative options. Documenting it protects both the client and the business.

Failure to provide the care a reasonably competent professional would give in similar circumstances, resulting in harm. Proving it requires a duty, a breach, causation, and damages.

The ethical and legal duty to keep a client's personal information, health history, and treatment records private, sharing them only with the client's permission or as required by law.