Client Consultation and Skin Analysis
Intake and consent
A complete health history drives every safe treatment decision. Ask about medications (isotretinoin, retinoids, blood thinners, photosensitizers), allergies, pregnancy, epilepsy, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, cold sores, and recent professional services (peels, laser, waxing, injectables). Obtain informed consent and - for tints, adhesives, and chemical exfoliants - a patch test 24–48 hours ahead.
Analysis sequence
Cleanse the skin, then examine under a magnifying lamp. A Wood's lamp helps reveal hydration and pigmentation patterns: violet fluorescence suggests dehydration, yellow suggests sebum, and brown or pink areas suggest sun damage or pigmentation. Follow with palpation for oiliness, elasticity, texture, and temperature, and ask the client how the skin feels and reacts.
Type versus condition
Skin type is genetic and oil-based: normal, dry, oily, combination. Conditions are changeable: dehydration, sensitivity, aging, pigmentation, acne. Expect a distractor that labels dehydration a skin type - it is a condition, and the fix is water-binding ingredients, not heavier oil.
Red flags and scope
Record your findings and refer out anything suspicious. Use the ABCDE guide: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over 6 mm, Evolution. Do not diagnose acne, rosacea, or melasma - describe what you observe and let a physician name it.
Traps
- Skipping the medication question.
- Documenting a diagnosis instead of an observation.
- Treating a client who had a peel or wax 48 hours ago.
Rule of thumb
Three questions before any treatment: What are you taking? What has been done to your skin in the last two weeks? What happens when your skin reacts badly?