Facial Treatments and Techniques
What the domain tests
Facial treatments test sequencing, contraindication screening, extraction judgment, massage safety, mask selection, and documentation. The exam favors conservative technique over aggressive deep cleaning.
Core rules and concepts
- Pre-service: health history, allergies, medications, pregnancy status; hand hygiene; sanitized station; clean linens; client drape.
- Typical sequence: cleanse, analyze, exfoliate, steam if appropriate, extract, massage, mask, tone, moisturize, SPF.
- Extract only visible comedones or pustules with a gentle, wrapped-finger technique; never force cystic or inflamed lesions. Lancets require training and authorization.
- Massage is contraindicated over active infection, recent surgery, blood clots, or undiagnosed swelling; use gentle pressure and avoid the carotid area.
- Mask choice: clay for oily or comedone-prone areas, hydrating gel or cream for dry or sensitive skin, and avoid hardening masks on reactive skin.
Worked example
A client has an oily T-zone, visible comedones on the nose, and dry cheeks. Reasoning: treat the areas differently. Use a mild cleanser, salicylic exfoliation on the T-zone only, brief warm steam, extract only soft visible comedones, apply clay to the T-zone and hydrating mask to the cheeks, and finish with non-comedogenic moisturizer and SPF. Skip extractions on inflamed papules.
Traps that cost marks
Steaming too long or using hot towels on rosacea; extracting inflamed lesions; using the same mask for every skin type; skipping a patch test; failing to document what was extracted and what was referred.