South Carolina Cosmetology License Exam — All Questions

The outermost layer of the skin, the one estheticians and cosmetologists work on most directly, is the:

• a.Epidermis✓
• b.Dermis
• c.Subcutaneous (adipose) layer
• d.Stratum papillare

The skin has three main layers. The epidermis is the thin outermost layer (its surface is the stratum corneum) and is where most surface skin-care and exfoliation work occurs. Beneath it is the dermis, the thicker living layer containing blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and sweat and oil glands. Deepest is the subcutaneous (adipose) layer of fatty tissue that provides insulation and contour.

A comedo (plural comedones), commonly seen in acne-prone skin, is best described as:

• a.A contagious viral wart
• b.A raised, fluid-filled blister
• c.A hair follicle impacted with keratinized cells and sebum (a blackhead is an open comedo; a whitehead is closed)✓
• d.An area of increased pigmentation from sun exposure

A comedo is a follicle that has become plugged with sebum (oil) and dead keratinized cells. When the plug is exposed to air at the surface it oxidizes and darkens, forming an open comedo, or blackhead. When it is covered by skin it stays light and forms a closed comedo, or whitehead. Comedones are a hallmark of acne and are a disorder of the sebaceous (oil) glands, not an infection or a pigmentation change.

During a basic facial, why is a cleansing step performed before applying treatment products or a mask?

• a.To immediately close the pores so nothing can penetrate
• b.To remove makeup, oil, and surface debris so the skin is clean and later products can work effectively✓
• c.Because products can only be applied to completely dry, unwashed skin
• d.To permanently remove the skin's acid mantle

Cleansing is the foundational first step of a facial. Removing makeup, excess oil, sweat, and environmental debris leaves a clean surface so that subsequent steps — exfoliation, massage, treatment products, and masks — can perform as intended and penetrate more effectively. Cleansing does not permanently strip the skin's protective acid mantle; a well-formulated cleanser respects it.