Skin terms
Skin Analysis
The process in which the esthetician examines the client's freshly cleansed skin with good lighting and voices their findings to the client. This process clarifies what conditions the client's skin is presenting and allows the esthetician to educate and give greater insight to the client's skin concerns.
Skin Type
A classification of a person's genetic oil production and ability to retain water. Types include dry, oily, and combination.
Skin Condition
A long term or temporary condition of the skin that can impact it's health
Hyperpigmentation
darkened patches or spots on the skin, resulting from the skin protecting itself from trauma.
Acne
inherited disorder of the pores where dead skin cells combine with sweat, oil, and pore cloggers to create comedones of varying forms
Dehydrated Skin
skin condition where the skin does not contain enough water.
Dry skin
skin that lacks oil production
Erythema
skin redness
Melasma
Form of hyperpigmentation caused by changing hormones. Usually appears in a specific pattern on the skin, also referred to as "pregnancy mask."
Milia
small, raised, pearly white bump on the skin that appears similar to a whitehead, but occurs deeper into the skin. Not extractable by estheticians as it requires a needle.
Sensitive Skin
condition where the skin is easily irritated and often has reactions such as redness, rash, stinging, itching, and burning. Can be temporary or lifelong.
Oily Skin
Skin with excess oil production
Free Radicals
unstable molecules that can damage healthy skin cells.
Hypopigmentation
a lightening of the skin due to melanin depletion
Rosacea
chronic, inflammatory skin condition that causes redness, flushing, and sensitivity
Sensitized Skin
skin that is easily irritated, and shows redness, rash, stinging, itching, or burning with minimal stimulation. Temporary condition caused by overuse of certain products, medications, or environmental exposure to extreme temperatures or industrial chemicals.
Combination Skin
skin with areas of excess oil and areas lacking oil.
Antioxidants
A substance that reduces damage due to oxygen, such as that caused by free radicals.
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
brown or dark marks caused by excess melanin production as a result of trauma to the skin. More common in deeper skin but can happen in all Fitzpatrick types.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
enlarged, overactive sebaceous glands that appear like a small donut-shaped lesion, often on the cheeks or forehead.
Reactive Skin
skin that turns temporarily red with minimal stimulation and does not sting, itch, rash, or feel excessive burning.
Normal Skin
skin that has a perfect balance of oil and water
Broken Capillaries
tiny blood vessels that widen and narrow too quickly and cause the vessel walls to tear and the blood to leak out, causing visible red broken capillaries.
Post Inflammatory Erythema
red, pink, or purple marks caused by excess dilated blood vessels as a result to trauma to the skin. More common in fair skin types but can be experienced by all Fitzpatrick types.
Sebaceous Filaments
hardened oil in the follicles due to normal oil production. Commonly mistaken for blackheads on the nose.