I85PREP
⌘ K
NE Esthetician study materials
NE Esthetician study resources

NE Esthetician practice questions

One question at a time. Build your NE Esthetician understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

While providing facials at a licensed Nebraska salon, where must an esthetician keep their individual license?

  1. Carried in the esthetician's purse or wallet at all times
  2. Locked in the salon owner's safe for protection
  3. Posted conspicuously at the workstation or place of business Correct answer.
  4. Filed only with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

Explanation

Nebraska rules require the individual license to be displayed in public view at the place where esthetics is practiced so clients and inspectors can verify licensure. Keeping the license in a wallet, safe, or state file does not satisfy the display requirement.

Question 2Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A metal comedone extractor is used on a client. What must the esthetician do before using it on another client?

  1. Store it in a closed drawer until the next client appointment
  2. Clean and disinfect it with an appropriate disinfectant Correct answer.
  3. Rinse it under warm running water and dry it with a paper towel
  4. Wipe it with a clean dry towel and place it back in the drawer

Explanation

Nebraska sanitation rules require reusable implements to be cleaned and then disinfected after each client and before reuse. Rinsing, wiping, or simply storing the implement does not kill pathogens that can be transferred to the next client.

Question 3Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

Which body administers and enforces the Nebraska Cosmetology Act and the Board of Cosmetology rules?

  1. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services with the Board of Cosmetology Correct answer.
  2. The local county health department acting alone under its food-service sanitation rules
  3. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration through its bloodborne pathogen standard
  4. The Nebraska Better Business Bureau through its voluntary salon dispute program

Explanation

The Nebraska Cosmetology Act places licensing and regulatory authority with the state health department and the Board of Cosmetology. Local health departments, OSHA, and private organizations may have separate roles, but they do not administer the Cosmetology Act.

Question 4Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A client points to an irregular, changing mole and asks the esthetician to remove it during a facial. What is the esthetician's most appropriate response?

  1. Document the mole and continue the facial without comment
  2. Decline to treat it and refer the client to a physician Correct answer.
  3. Treat the mole with a high-frequency electrode during the facial
  4. Apply a strong exfoliating acid to flatten the mole

Explanation

Estheticians are limited to cosmetic skin care and may not diagnose or treat abnormal skin lesions. A mole that is irregular or changing needs medical evaluation, so the esthetician should decline the service and refer the client to a physician.

Question 5Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

During a lip wax, what practice meets Nebraska sanitation requirements for wax applicators?

  1. Use a new disposable applicator for each dip into the wax pot Correct answer.
  2. Rinse the applicator in water and return it to the wax pot
  3. Dip the same applicator repeatedly if the client is a regular customer
  4. Wipe the applicator on a towel between waxing different clients

Explanation

Single-use applicators prevent contamination of the wax supply and cross-contamination between clients. Re-dipping a used applicator, often called double-dipping, is not an acceptable sanitation practice even for a regular client.

Question 6Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A salon owner permits an unlicensed receptionist to perform eyebrow tinting on clients. Under Nebraska law, who may be subject to discipline?

  1. Only the receptionist, because the owner did not perform the service
  2. The receptionist and the salon owner or salon license Correct answer.
  3. Only the product manufacturer that supplied the tint
  4. No one, because eyebrow tinting is not a licensed service

Explanation

Practicing esthetics without a license violates the Cosmetology Act, and a salon owner who allows unlicensed practice may also face discipline against the salon license. The licensed establishment must ensure that services are performed by appropriately licensed persons.

Question 7Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A student in a Nebraska esthetics program performs a facial on a paying client in the school salon. What supervision is required?

  1. A licensed instructor must directly supervise the student Correct answer.
  2. The student may work independently after the first month of training
  3. No supervision is required if the client signs a consent form
  4. A licensed esthetician at a nearby salon may supervise by telephone

Explanation

Nebraska rules require students in cosmetology and esthetics schools to practice only under the supervision of a licensed instructor. A client consent form does not replace the required instructor supervision.

Question 8Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

Which statement about a Nebraska salon license is correct?

  1. A salon license may be transferred to a new owner when the salon is sold
  2. A salon license is optional if every employee holds an individual license
  3. A salon license is required for the establishment and is not transferable Correct answer.
  4. A salon license is required only when more than one esthetician works there

Explanation

The Act requires a license for the establishment where cosmetology or esthetics is practiced, and the license is issued to the owner for that location. Individual licenses do not replace the salon license, and the salon license does not transfer to a buyer.

Question 9Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A Nebraska inspector arrives during business hours and asks to see the salon's treatment room and client-service areas. What should the esthetician do?

  1. Refuse entry unless the inspector has a client complaint
  2. Provide access to the areas requested during business hours Correct answer.
  3. Show only the reception area and keep treatment rooms closed
  4. Ask the inspector to return after the last client leaves

Explanation

The Department and Board have inspection authority over licensed establishments during business hours to determine compliance with the Act and rules. Delaying or limiting access can itself violate the rules and interfere with the inspection.

Question 10Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

An esthetician wants to add a new skin-care procedure that is not explicitly described in the Nebraska Cosmetology Act. What principle should guide the decision?

  1. Only procedures authorized by the Act and Board rules may be performed Correct answer.
  2. Any procedure is allowed if the client signs a waiver
  3. The procedure is allowed if another state permits estheticians to perform it
  4. The procedure is allowed if a product representative trains the esthetician

Explanation

Estheticians in Nebraska may perform only services that fall within the statutory scope and Board rules; a waiver, vendor training, or another state's law does not expand that scope. When a service is uncertain, the esthetician should verify its status with the Board before offering it.

Question 11Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

Before beginning a facial on a new client in a Nebraska licensed esthetics salon, what hand-hygiene practice does the Board of Cosmetology require of the esthetician?

  1. Use hand sanitizer only
  2. Put on gloves without washing
  3. Wash the hands with soap and water Correct answer.
  4. Rinse with water and dry on a towel

Explanation

Nebraska Board sanitation rules require the esthetician to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after each client service. Gloves are not a substitute for handwashing, and a quick rinse or towel dry does not meet the requirement.

Question 12Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

During an eyelash tint service in Nebraska, which item must an esthetician treat as single-use and discard after the client?

  1. The tint brush Correct answer.
  2. A stainless-steel mixing palette
  3. A reusable plastic cape
  4. A glass measuring cup

Explanation

Tint brushes are porous and cannot be adequately cleaned and disinfected between clients, so Nebraska sanitation rules treat them as single-use. Metal palettes and glass cups may be disinfected, and reusable capes are laundered between clients.

Question 13Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A client arrives for a facial with a small dog and asks to keep it on her lap. Under Nebraska Board of Cosmetology rules for salon sanitation, how should the esthetician respond?

  1. Allow the dog in the reception area only
  2. Allow it if the client signs a waiver
  3. Allow the dog to stay on the client's lap
  4. Exclude it unless it is a service animal Correct answer.

Explanation

Nebraska salon sanitation rules prohibit animals in esthetics areas except service animals. Allowing a pet on the client's lap or in the reception area creates a contamination risk and does not satisfy the rule.

Question 14Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A Nebraska esthetician completes continuing education courses for license renewal. What should the esthetician do with the completion records?

  1. Mail the originals to the Board
  2. Post them in the salon reception area
  3. Keep them on file for audit Correct answer.
  4. Discard them after paying the renewal fee

Explanation

A Nebraska esthetician must complete the required continuing education for renewal and keep completion records available for Board review. The Board does not require licensees to mail originals or post certificates in the salon.

Question 15Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

After a waxing service, what should be done with the treatment table surface before the next client?

  1. Cover it with a reused cape
  2. Spray it with air freshener
  3. Clean and disinfect the surface Correct answer.
  4. Wipe it with a dry paper towel

Explanation

After each client, nonporous surfaces such as the treatment table must be cleaned and then disinfected with an EPA-registered disinfectant. A dry towel, air freshener, or reused cape does not disinfect the surface.

Question 16Nebraska Cosmetology Act, Board Rules and Regulations

A Nebraska esthetician is asked to perform a medium-depth chemical peel using a 30% TCA solution. Under the Cosmetology Act, what is the correct response?

  1. Decline; medium-depth peels are medical Correct answer.
  2. Perform the peel after written consent
  3. Perform it with a medical waiver
  4. Perform it if the room is private

Explanation

A medium-depth chemical peel with 30% TCA is a medical procedure and is outside the scope of a Nebraska esthetician license. Written consent, privacy, or a waiver does not authorize an esthetician to perform medical treatments.

Question 17Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

After a metal extraction tool has been used on a client and cleaned of visible debris, which step is required before the tool may be used on another client?

  1. Wipe it carefully with a 70% alcohol pad and place it in a covered tray until the next client arrives.
  2. Expose it to ultraviolet light in a closed cabinet for at least ten minutes after each use.
  3. Immerse it in an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant for the label's stated contact time. Correct answer.
  4. Rinse it under hot running water for thirty seconds, then dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth towel.

Explanation

Cleaning removes visible debris but does not kill pathogens. Reusable metal implements that contact skin must then be fully immersed in an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant, using the label's dilution and contact time. Alcohol wipes and ultraviolet cabinets are not acceptable substitutes for that labeled disinfection step.

Question 18Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

An esthetician is about to begin a facial on a healthy client, and the hands are not visibly soiled. What hand hygiene procedure best meets infection-control standards?

  1. Wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, rinse, and dry with a single-use paper towel. Correct answer.
  2. Apply an alcohol-based hand rub and begin the service while the product is still wet on the hands.
  3. Wipe the hands with the same disinfectant used for the treatment table and let them air dry.
  4. Rinse the hands with cool water and dry them on the spa's cloth hand towel before touching the client.

Explanation

Routine handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, followed by drying with a single-use towel, is the standard before client contact. Alcohol rubs are an alternative only when hands are not visibly soiled and the product is allowed to dry completely. Cloth towels can recontaminate clean hands.

Question 19Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

During extractions, a client's skin starts to bleed and the esthetician notices blood on the gloved fingertips. What is the esthetician's first action?

  1. Remove the gloves, wash hands with soap and warm water, and follow the exposure-control plan. Correct answer.
  2. Apply pressure through the glove, then wipe the glove with a disinfecting wipe before continuing.
  3. Spray the gloves with an EPA-registered disinfectant, then pull a fresh pair over them and continue.
  4. Finish the extractions, then change gloves and wash hands when the service is complete.

Explanation

A blood exposure requires stopping the service and following bloodborne-pathogen precautions: remove contaminated gloves, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, and report the incident under the facility's exposure-control plan. Disinfectant is not for skin, and continuing the service keeps the exposure active.

Question 20Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A spa uses a concentrated quaternary ammonium disinfectant for manicure tables. Which practice follows the manufacturer's label and infection-control principles?

  1. Store the concentrate in an unmarked bottle to prevent clients from confusing it with a beverage.
  2. Reuse the solution for several days and top it off with water whenever the level in the basin drops.
  3. Mix it with bleach to increase the kill spectrum and store the mixture in a spray bottle for later use.
  4. Dilute it at the label ratio, apply for the full contact time, and keep the working solution covered and labeled. Correct answer.

Explanation

Disinfectants must be diluted and used exactly as the label directs, including contact time, because incorrect strength or shortened contact time can fail to kill pathogens. Working solutions should be labeled and covered, and they must be replaced when soiled or at the label's interval. Mixing chemicals can create toxic reactions and is never appropriate unless the label specifically allows it.

Question 21Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

Which item in an esthetician's kit can be cleaned and disinfected for reuse on another client?

  1. A wooden orange stick used to push back cuticles.
  2. A disposable mascara wand used for tinting lashes.
  3. A stainless steel comedone extractor. Correct answer.
  4. A cotton-tipped applicator used to apply a peel solution.

Explanation

Nonporous metal implements such as stainless steel extractors can be cleaned and then disinfected according to protocol, or sterilized when blood or deeper tissue contact requires it. Porous items like cotton, wood, and disposable wands absorb product and cannot be reliably disinfected, so they are single-use and must be discarded.

Question 22Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

An esthetician needs first-aid instructions and spill-cleanup details for a chemical peel solution. Where should this information be found?

  1. On the client's signed consent form kept in the treatment file.
  2. In the appointment-booking log at the front desk.
  3. In the product's Safety Data Sheet. Correct answer.
  4. In the state licensing renewal packet.

Explanation

Safety Data Sheets are provided by the manufacturer and contain hazard identification, first-aid measures, spill procedures, handling, and storage information required for workplace chemical safety. Consent forms and scheduling records do not contain chemical hazard data.

Question 23Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

An esthetician will perform a treatment that may involve contact with a client's blood or body fluids. Which glove practice is correct?

  1. Wear the same pair of gloves for all clients during the shift to save supplies.
  2. Put lotion on the hands before donning gloves so they are easier to remove later.
  3. Wash the nitrile gloves with soap and water and reuse them for the next client.
  4. Change gloves between clients and immediately replace any glove that is torn or contaminated. Correct answer.

Explanation

Gloves are single-use personal protective equipment. They must be changed between clients and whenever they are torn, punctured, or contaminated, and hands should be washed before donning and after removing them. Reusing gloves or wearing one pair all shift defeats the barrier.

Question 24Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A reusable metal implement has visible blood on it after a service. After the esthetician cleans off the visible blood, what processing is required before the implement is reused?

  1. Low-level disinfection with a labeled spray-and-wipe product, followed by air drying.
  2. Intermediate disinfection by soaking in a quaternary ammonium solution for the labeled time.
  3. High-level disinfection by wiping the implement with 70% isopropyl alcohol and letting it dry.
  4. Sterilization, such as steam autoclaving, because the item has been contaminated with blood. Correct answer.

Explanation

Blood-contaminated reusable implements must be handled as biohazardous and processed so that all microbial life, including bacterial spores, is destroyed; sterilization by steam autoclave or an equivalent validated method is required. Disinfection alone, even at high level, does not reliably inactivate all spores and is not the correct endpoint for blood-contaminated items.

Question 25Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A treatment room stores 70% isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and a bottle of acetone near a wax warmer with an open pilot flame. Which change best reduces the risk of fire or dangerous reaction?

  1. Move all flammable and oxidizing products to a closed, labeled cabinet away from heat and ignition sources. Correct answer.
  2. Pour unused product back into the original container after each service to avoid waste.
  3. Place the bottles in the refrigerator next to food to keep them cool during the workday.
  4. Combine the three liquids into one labeled bottle to save shelf space near the warmer.

Explanation

Isopropyl alcohol and acetone are flammable, and hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizer that can worsen a fire or react with other chemicals. Flammables and oxidizers should be kept in closed, labeled containers away from heat, flames, and incompatible materials; refrigerating them near food is inappropriate, and combining chemicals is unsafe.

Question 26Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A client arrives for a lip wax with a painful, weeping cold sore on the upper lip. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Reschedule the service until the lesion has healed and advise the client to see a physician. Correct answer.
  2. Double-glove and complete the wax while avoiding the sore.
  3. Apply a thick layer of antiviral ointment and proceed with the wax.
  4. Wax around the sore and apply a disinfectant afterward.

Explanation

An active, weeping cold sore is a contagious viral lesion and a contraindication for waxing in the area because the procedure can spread the virus, worsen inflammation, and create a portal for secondary infection. The service should be postponed until healed, and the client should be referred for medical evaluation.

Question 27Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

Which process completely destroys all microbial life on an implement, including bacterial spores?

  1. High-level disinfection
  2. Sanitation
  3. Cleaning
  4. Sterilization Correct answer.

Explanation

Sterilization is the only process that destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores. Sanitation lowers the number of microorganisms, high-level disinfection may leave some spores, and cleaning removes debris but does not kill pathogens.

Question 28Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

Under standard precautions, an esthetician should treat which clients' blood and body fluids as potentially infectious?

  1. Only clients who have a fever
  2. Only clients with visible cuts or rashes
  3. Only clients who disclose a bloodborne illness
  4. All clients, regardless of known health status Correct answer.

Explanation

Standard precautions require the same infection-control practices for every client because a person may carry bloodborne pathogens without visible symptoms or disclosure. Decisions are based on the task and the likelihood of exposure, not on the client's stated health status.

Question 29Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

After a facial treatment, which item should be discarded in a labeled biohazard waste container?

  1. A clean disposable headband
  2. A completed paper intake form
  3. An empty plastic toner bottle
  4. A blood-soaked cotton pad Correct answer.

Explanation

Items saturated with blood or other body fluids are potentially infectious and belong in a labeled biohazard container. Ordinary trash, recycling, and clean disposable supplies do not require biohazard handling.

Question 30Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A manufacturer's label states that a surface disinfectant must remain wet for 10 minutes. What does this mean for the esthetician?

  1. Keep the surface wet for the full 10 minutes Correct answer.
  2. Wipe the surface dry immediately after one spray
  3. Dilute the product so that it dries more quickly
  4. Spray once and wait 10 seconds

Explanation

Contact time is the length of time a disinfectant must remain wet on the surface to kill the microorganisms listed on its label. Wiping it away early, diluting it, or shortening the wait prevents the product from reaching its labeled efficacy.

Question 31Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A disinfectant is poured from its original container into an unmarked spray bottle for a treatment room. What is required?

  1. The original label can be photographed and stored on a phone
  2. Label the bottle with the product name and hazards Correct answer.
  3. The bottle can stay unmarked if used only by licensed staff
  4. A label is needed only when the product is flammable

Explanation

Any product transferred out of its original container must be labeled with its contents and hazard warnings. An unmarked bottle can be mistaken for water or another product, and staff may not recognize the chemical or its risks.

Question 32Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

When mixing a concentrated disinfectant for a pedicure tub, which practice follows the manufacturer's directions?

  1. Measure concentrate and water at the labeled ratio Correct answer.
  2. Add extra concentrate to shorten the required contact time
  3. Use hot water to increase the strength of the solution
  4. Combine two different disinfectants to broaden coverage

Explanation

Concentrated disinfectants must be diluted exactly as the label directs, using measured amounts of concentrate and water. Overstrength or mixed products can be less effective, increase fumes, or damage equipment, and contact time cannot be shortened.

Question 33Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A client arrives for a facial with a circular, scaly, itchy patch on the cheek that appears to be ringworm. What is the esthetician's best action?

  1. Treat only the unaffected areas of the face
  2. Cover the patch with makeup and proceed
  3. Decline the service and refer to a physician Correct answer.
  4. Apply a disinfectant to the patch before starting

Explanation

Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection, and a facial service can spread it to the esthetician, equipment, and other clients. The service should be declined and the client referred for medical evaluation; covering it or applying disinfectant does not make it safe to treat.

Question 34Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

During a facial, an esthetician uses a spatula to remove cream from a jar, applies it to the client's face, then dips the same spatula back into the jar. Why is this a problem?

  1. It makes the spatula harder to disinfect later
  2. It can transfer client microbes into the product Correct answer.
  3. It changes the pH of the remaining product
  4. It uses more product than necessary during the service

Explanation

Re-dipping a soiled spatula carries microorganisms from the client's skin into the product container, where they can contaminate later services. A clean spatula or a single-use applicator should be used each time product is removed.

Question 35Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A spa runs its autoclave daily. Which monitoring method provides the most reliable evidence that the sterilization cycle actually killed spores?

  1. Reading the temperature gauge at the end of the cycle
  2. Wiping the outside of the instrument pouch with alcohol
  3. Using a biological spore test with incubation Correct answer.
  4. Checking that the autoclave indicator tape changed color

Explanation

Biological spore tests contain resistant spores and directly verify that the sterilization cycle killed them. Indicator tape and temperature readings show only that the load was exposed to heat, not that sterilization was achieved.

Question 36Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A glass dropper bottle shatters on the treatment room floor. What is the safest cleanup procedure?

  1. Vacuum the glass and empty the vacuum bag into a soft trash bag
  2. Pick up the pieces with bare hands and place them in the trash
  3. Use a broom and dustpan, then place glass in a rigid container Correct answer.
  4. Rinse the glass down the sink with running water

Explanation

Broken glass is a sharp hazard and must be picked up without bare hands, then placed in a rigid, puncture-resistant container. Vacuuming or rinsing can scatter glass and contaminate the sink or equipment.

Question 37Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

An esthetician removes gloves after a facial and sees makeup residue and lotion on the hands. Which hand hygiene method is appropriate?

  1. Wipe hands with a disinfecting wipe
  2. Wash with soap and water Correct answer.
  3. Rinse hands under running water
  4. Use only an alcohol-based hand rub

Explanation

Visible soil, including makeup or lotion, reduces the effectiveness of alcohol-based hand rubs because organic matter can inactivate the active ingredient. The esthetician must wash with soap and water, using friction for at least 20 seconds, then dry with a clean paper towel.

Question 38Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

After shaping a client's eyebrows with a single-use razor blade, where should the blade be placed?

  1. In the lined wastebasket in the treatment room
  2. In a sealed plastic bag in the laundry hamper
  3. In a rigid sharps container Correct answer.
  4. On the implement tray for later disposal

Explanation

A single-use razor blade is a contaminated sharp and must go directly into a puncture-resistant, labeled sharps container at the point of use. Bending, recapping, or placing it in regular trash creates a needlestick or cut hazard for staff.

Question 39Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

An esthetician is diluting a concentrated disinfectant in a treatment room. Which personal protective equipment is most important to protect against splashes to the face?

  1. Safety goggles Correct answer.
  2. A reusable cloth face mask
  3. Nitrile examination gloves only
  4. A disposable surgical cap

Explanation

Splashes from concentrated disinfectants can injure the eyes, so safety goggles or a face shield are the appropriate barrier when mixing or pouring chemicals. Gloves protect the hands, and a cloth mask or cap does not seal around the eyes.

Question 40Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A towel used during a facial has visible massage oil and client residue. How should the esthetician handle it before laundering?

  1. Fold it with clean towels
  2. Rinse it in the treatment sink
  3. Bag it without shaking Correct answer.
  4. Shake it out over the sink

Explanation

Contaminated linens should be handled as little as possible and placed directly into a designated laundry bag at the point of use. Shaking or rinsing a towel can aerosolize microorganisms and contaminate nearby surfaces.

Question 41Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A wax warmer's cord is frayed near the plug. What is the correct action before the warmer is used again?

  1. Wrap the frayed section with electrical tape
  2. Use it only on the lowest heat setting
  3. Plug it into a surge-protected power strip
  4. Remove it from service and report it Correct answer.

Explanation

A frayed cord is a shock and fire hazard and must be taken out of service until a qualified person repairs or replaces it. Taping a damaged cord does not restore insulation integrity and can hide ongoing damage.

Question 42Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A client arrives for a lash tint with red, watery eyes and crusted lashes, reporting a recent diagnosis of conjunctivitis. What should the esthetician do?

  1. Perform the service with a face shield
  2. Proceed if the client signs a waiver
  3. Reschedule and refer to a provider Correct answer.
  4. Apply a cold compress and continue

Explanation

Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and a lash tint service near the eyes could spread infection or worsen the client's condition. The esthetician should reschedule and refer the client to a healthcare provider; a waiver does not make the service safe.

Question 43Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

A spa stores disinfected metal tweezers in an open tray on the treatment cart. What is the main infection-control problem?

  1. The tweezers will lose their finish faster
  2. Metal implements must stay in disinfectant permanently
  3. Covered storage is required to prevent contamination Correct answer.
  4. The tray does not allow the tweezers to air-dry

Explanation

After disinfection, implements must be stored in a clean, covered container to protect them from dust, splashes, and airborne contaminants. An open tray on a treatment cart does not maintain the disinfected status of the tweezers.

Question 44Infection Control, Sanitation and Safety Practices

Which statement best explains why a UV towel warmer does not sterilize implements?

  1. UV light kills spores better than an autoclave
  2. UV cabinets sterilize effectively when towels are dry
  3. Towel warmers sterilize by heat alone
  4. UV light does not penetrate surfaces reliably Correct answer.

Explanation

UV light in a towel warmer reaches only exposed surfaces and can be blocked by residue, shadows, or overlapping items, so it is not a dependable sterilization method. Sterilization requires a validated process such as steam under pressure in an autoclave, with monitoring.

Question 45Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Body Systems

In which epidermal layer do keratinocytes primarily undergo mitotic division?

  1. Stratum lucidum
  2. Stratum corneum
  3. Stratum basale Correct answer.
  4. Stratum granulosum

Explanation

The stratum basale, also called the stratum germinativum, is a single layer of columnar cells resting on the basement membrane. These basal keratinocytes are the main site of mitosis in the epidermis, and their daughter cells migrate outward and differentiate. The more superficial layers contain cells that are no longer actively dividing.

Question 46Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Body Systems

The acid mantle of the skin primarily serves which function?

  1. It speeds desquamation by dissolving corneocyte attachments.
  2. It emulsifies sebum into a thick waterproof coating.
  3. It increases transepidermal water loss to promote cooling.
  4. It inhibits the growth of many pathogenic microorganisms. Correct answer.

Explanation

The acid mantle is a thin film of sweat, sebum, and cellular debris with a pH usually around 4.5 to 5.5. This acidity discourages colonization by many bacteria and fungi and supports the skin's barrier and immune defenses. It is not a major emulsifier or a mechanism for increasing water loss.

Question 47Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Body Systems

Which cell type produces melanin, the pigment that helps shield keratinocyte DNA from ultraviolet radiation?

  1. Merkel cell
  2. Langerhans cell
  3. Melanocyte Correct answer.
  4. Fibroblast

Explanation

Melanocytes reside in the stratum basale and synthesize melanin within melanosomes. They transfer melanin to neighboring keratinocytes, where it forms a cap over the nucleus and absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Langerhans cells are immune cells, Merkel cells are mechanosensory, and fibroblasts build dermal matrix.

Question 48Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Body Systems

As keratinocytes move from the stratum granulosum toward the stratum corneum during keratinization, which change occurs?

  1. They enlarge and increase mitochondrial activity.
  2. They secrete collagen and elastin into the dermis.
  3. They re-enter the cell cycle and divide rapidly.
  4. They flatten, lose nuclei and organelles, and accumulate keratin. Correct answer.

Explanation

Keratinization is the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. In the upper epidermis the cells flatten, lose their nuclei and organelles, and become corneocytes packed with keratin surrounded by a cornified envelope. This process creates the tough, water-resistant outer layer of the skin.

Question 49Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Body Systems

Which feature is characteristic of the papillary layer of the dermis?

  1. A predominant population of adipocytes and large-caliber vessels
  2. Fingerlike projections that interlock with epidermal ridges and contain capillary loops Correct answer.
  3. Dense irregular connective tissue with thick, parallel collagen bundles
  4. The nail matrix and proximal nail fold

Explanation

The papillary dermis is the superficial dermal layer, named for its fingerlike papillae that project into the epidermis. These projections increase the area of dermoepidermal contact and carry capillary loops that nourish the avascular epidermis. The deeper reticular layer contains denser collagen bundles, and subcutaneous fat lies below the dermis.

Question 50Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Body Systems

Sebaceous glands release sebum by which mechanism and into which structure?

  1. Holocrine secretion into a hair follicle Correct answer.
  2. Apocrine secretion into an eccrine sweat duct
  3. Merocrine secretion directly onto the skin surface
  4. Endocrine secretion into the dermal bloodstream

Explanation

Sebaceous glands use holocrine secretion: the sebocyte fills with lipid, disintegrates, and releases its contents. In most areas the sebum enters the upper part of a hair follicle, forming the pilosebaceous unit. Sebaceous glands are not endocrine glands and do not ordinarily secrete through eccrine ducts.