Skin Care Techniques and Products

Desquamation

• Skin's natural shedding process
• Stratum corneum shedding
• New cells replace old ones from lower layers
• Average turnover time: 28 days (influenced by lifestyle, age, and health)

Exfoliation

• Process aiding skin shedding
• Increases cell turnover, blood flow, and circulation
• Deep pore cleansing
• Product penetration enhancement
• Also known as "Facial Brush"

Rotary Brush

• Light exfoliation
• Stimulates the skin
• Softens excess oil, dirt, and cell buildup
• Contraindications: overuse, irritation, and sensitivity

Safety and Maintenance

• Only use brush heads compatible with disinfectants
• Certain brushes with natural bristles might deteriorate and are unsuitable for cleaning/disinfection
• Avoid prolonged ultraviolet sanitizer exposure to prevent brush damage

Professional Masks

• Benefits include pore cleansing, blemish reduction, tightening, toning, hydration, nourishment, and rejuvenation

Examples of Beneficial Ingredients in Masks

• Vitamin A, C, E, Hyaluronic Acid, Seaweed, Calcium, Diatomaceous Earth, Bentonite, Kaolin, Honey, Glycerin, and Zinc Oxide

Types of Masks

• Cream, Gel, Mud, Wax, Setting/Modeling, Peel-Off, and Electric

Paraffin Wax

• Warms the skin to improve circulation
• Enhances penetration of products applied underneath
• Used for dry or mature skin

Serums and Ampoules

• High concentration of performance ingredients
• Targeted skin conditions
• Effective skin penetration through different packaging

Extractions

• Removal of dead cells, sebum, bacteria, and debris from skin follicles

Analysis of Need for Extractions

• Dehydrated skin may benefit from hydration before extractions
• Desincrustation preparation (softening the skin) is needed
• Alkaline pH solutions are used for clogged pores, blackheads, pimples, etc. (to liquefy sebum)

Desincrustation

• Applied to affected areas
• Solution: Baking soda + distilled water (1:1)
• Applied with brush/cotton, sits 10-15 minutes
• Used with steam to increase flexibility
• Galvanic current or Suction/Vacuuming can be used (not for sensitive skin, couperose, or acne)

Extraction of Open Comedones

• After desincrustation, remove products and leave skin moist
• Damp cotton wrap over index finger
• Gentle downward pressure to extract
• Use of extractor tool (not for fragile, sensitive, or couperose skin)

Extraction Tools

• (Closed Comedones): pre-softening with lancet/extractor, dilate follicle
• (Pustules): gently press sterile lancet, lift top, pus emerges, hold area taut, press downward
• (Milia): Confirm Milia, skin stretched, lift top cell layers by sterile lancet, and press on "unopened" side.

General Rules for Extractions

• Limit extraction process to 10 minutes
• Avoid AHA products after extractions
• High frequency is used with Alternating Tesla pulse current, no polarity, and non-chemical changes occur. Rapid oscillation of machine vibrates water molecules.

Electrodes

• Different types with specific benefits/physiological reactions
• Gases create visible light (neon, pink/orange for sensitive skin, argon, blue/violet for normal to oily skin)
• High frequency increases skin circulation, gives antiseptic/healing properties because it creates ozone, helps oxygenate skin, and helps coagulate + heal open lesions, and relaxes

Contraindications for High Frequency

• Couperose skin
• Inflamed areas
• Pacemakers
• Metal implants
• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Braces
• Clients who are pregnant
• Body piercings above the waist

Safety and Maintenance for High Frequency

• Clean electrodes with soap and water after each use
• Do not use alcohol on electrodes
• Wipe only the glass end with a disinfecting wipe (not the metal)

Incorporating High Frequency into Facial Treatments

• Direct/Indirect

Benefits of Massage

• Relaxation, improved metabolism, muscle tone, cleansing, exfoliation, reduces puffiness, product absorption, relieves tension, and sense of well-being

Facial Massage Contraindications

• Contagious diseases, inflamed acne, sunburn, sensitive skin, open lesions, skin disorders, severe uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes

Techniques (Massage)

• Effleurage: soft stroking movements, start/finish sessions, position of fingers
• Petrissage: compression technique, affects deeper tissue, stimulates circulation
• Friction: stimulates circulation, glandular activity
• Alternative techniques include acupressure, Shiatsu, pressure point massage and manual lymph drainage

Ultrasound Technology

• Uses non-invasive sound waves above human hearing range
• Based on high frequency mechanical oscillations (spatula-like tool)
• Used for product penetration, cellulite reduction, cleansing/exfoliation, increased blood flow, promoting oxygenation, and collagen production

Ultrasound When to Use and Effects

• Helps product penetration, reduces cellulite
• Vibrations cleanse and exfoliate skin
• Penetrates tissues deeply (heat manipulation), increases blood flow
• Sonophoresis assists product penetration

Ultrasound Contraindications

• Skin lesions, heart conditions, pacemakers, epilepsy, pregnancy, advanced diabetes, and cancerous lesions

Definitions (related to skin)

• Epidermis: outermost layer
• Dermis: inner layer
• Subcutaneous layer: underlying tissue
• Adipose: fat tissue
• Desmosomes: specialized protein complexes for intercellular junctions
• Keratinocytes: primary epidermal cells

Skin Components

• Melanocytes: produce melanin
• Merkel cells: special sensory cells
• Collagen: provides strength/flexibility
• Elastin: restores stretched tissues
• Stratum Corneum: external layer
• Stratum Lucidum: smooth, translucent layer under stratum corneum
• Stratum Granulosum: granular layer
• Stratum Spinosum: prickle cell layer
• Stratum Germinativum: attached to dermis
• Comedones/Milia: small, non-inflammatory acne lesions
• Dehydration: lacking total body water
• Sun Damage: premature aging, skin cancer risk
• Enlarged Pores: excess sebum
• Erythema: skin redness (inflammation)
• Hyperkeratinization: cell cohesion, not shedding
• Keratosis: skin growth
• Seborrhea: chronic, relapsing skin condition

Skin Conditions

• Couperose skin: weakened blood vessels (cheeks/nose)
• Sensitivities: reactions to external factors
• Wrinkles/Aging: thinner, drier skin
• Poor Elasticity: sagging skin
• Hyperpigmentation: skin darkening
• Hypopigmentation: skin lightening
• Irritation: discomfort/redness
• Rosacea: facial redness/flushing/bumps
• Cysts, Papules, Pustules: inflamed skin bumps
• Asphyxiated: cells lacking nutrition/oxygen
• Adult Acne: acne appearing after 25