California Esthetician — All Questions

A product label states a pH of 3.5. What does this tell the esthetician?

• a.The pH value describes the product's thickness, not its acidity
• b.The product is alkaline and will soften the acid mantle
• c.The product is acidic, and because the scale is logarithmic it is significantly more acidic than a pH 5.5 product✓
• d.The product is neutral, like pure water

A pH below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is alkaline, and each whole number represents a tenfold change, so pH 3.5 is roughly a hundred times more acidic than pH 5.5. That difference matters because low-pH exfoliating products act more aggressively on the skin. pH describes hydrogen ion concentration, not viscosity.

Which statement about emulsions used in skin care is accurate?

• a.An emulsion is a mixture of oil and water held together by a surfactant, and it may be oil-in-water or water-in-oil✓
• b.All emulsions are water-in-oil and feel heavy on the skin
• c.An emulsion is a single pure substance with no separate phases
• d.Emulsions do not require an emulsifying agent

An emulsion suspends one immiscible liquid inside another, and a surfactant or emulsifier keeps the droplets dispersed so the product does not separate. Oil-in-water emulsions feel lighter and are common in lotions, while water-in-oil emulsions are richer and more occlusive. Without an emulsifier the phases separate, and an emulsion is by definition a mixture, not a pure substance.

A client with dehydrated skin should look for which type of ingredient to attract and bind water in the skin?

• a.A humectant such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or sodium PCA✓
• b.An abrasive such as aluminum oxide crystals
• c.A strong surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate
• d.A denatured alcohol

Humectants attract and hold water in the stratum corneum, which is exactly what dehydrated skin lacks. Strong surfactants strip the barrier lipids, denatured alcohol increases evaporation and irritation, and abrasives are exfoliants that provide no hydration. In low humidity, humectants work best when paired with an occlusive or emollient to seal the moisture in.

How do alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) differ functionally from beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid)?

• a.Neither affects the skin's pH
• b.AHAs are water-soluble and work mainly on the surface, while salicylic acid is oil-soluble and can penetrate sebum inside the follicle✓
• c.Both are oil-soluble and both dissolve only surface cells
• d.AHAs are oil-soluble and salicylic acid is water-soluble

Glycolic and lactic acid are water-soluble AHAs that loosen bonds between surface cells, while salicylic acid is a lipid-soluble BHA that travels into sebum-filled follicles, which is why it suits oily and acne-prone skin. The solubility descriptions are not reversed. Both act at a low pH and both increase photosensitivity, so daily sun protection is required.

A client develops itching, redness, and small bumps only where a new serum was applied, appearing about a day after use. What is the most likely explanation and correct action?

• a.A sign the product is working; the client should apply it twice as often
• b.A normal purging response; the client should keep using the product daily
• c.A likely allergic contact dermatitis; the esthetician should discontinue the product, note the ingredient list in the client's record, and refer the client to a physician if symptoms persist✓
• d.A bacterial infection; the esthetician should recommend an antibiotic

A delayed, itchy, well-demarcated reaction limited to the application area is characteristic of allergic contact dermatitis, and the response is to stop the product, document the ingredients so it is avoided in future, and refer if symptoms continue. Continuing or increasing use worsens sensitization. Estheticians do not diagnose infections or recommend antibiotics.

An esthetician plans a galvanic desincrustation treatment. Which statement is correct?

• a.Desincrustation uses the positive pole to force product into the skin
• b.Desincrustation and iontophoresis are the same procedure
• c.Galvanic current is safe for all clients, including those with a pacemaker
• d.Desincrustation uses the negative pole with an alkaline solution to soften sebum and debris, making extractions easier✓

Galvanic desincrustation uses the negative pole and an alkaline solution to saponify sebum and soften follicular debris before extraction, while iontophoresis uses matched polarity to drive water-soluble products into the skin. Galvanic current is contraindicated for clients with a pacemaker, metal implants in the treatment area, epilepsy, pregnancy, open lesions, or a lack of skin sensation.

Before using a high-frequency device, which precaution is most important?

• a.Having the client hold a metal object to complete the circuit
• b.Keeping alcohol and other flammable products away from the electrode, and screening for contraindications such as pregnancy, a pacemaker, epilepsy, or asthma✓
• c.Using it over open, bleeding extraction sites for a germicidal effect
• d.Applying an alcohol-based toner right before contact to boost conductivity

High-frequency electrodes produce a spark, so flammable alcohol-based products must be removed from the area first, and clients who are pregnant or who have a pacemaker, epilepsy, or asthma should not receive the service. The device is used on intact skin with a light germicidal and drying effect, not on open bleeding sites, and no metal object is held by the client.

A client booked for microcurrent mentions that she has a cardiac pacemaker. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Perform the service at the lowest intensity setting
• b.Perform the service after asking the client to sign a waiver
• c.Decline the microcurrent service and offer a non-electrical alternative such as a manual facial✓
• d.Perform the service but avoid the neck only

Electrical modalities including microcurrent, galvanic, and high frequency are contraindicated for clients with a pacemaker or implanted electrical device because of the potential to interfere with it; the safe choice is a non-electrical service. Lowering the intensity, limiting the area, or obtaining a waiver does not eliminate an absolute medical contraindication. Other common contraindications include pregnancy, epilepsy, and active cancer without physician clearance.

Which statement about LED light therapy as used by estheticians is accurate?

• a.LED is a non-thermal, non-ablative light, with blue light commonly used for acne-causing bacteria and red light for stimulating and calming; eye protection is required✓
• b.LED light burns away the outer layer of skin like a laser
• c.LED has no contraindications of any kind
• d.LED is a laser device that estheticians may operate freely

LED panels emit low-level, non-thermal light that does not ablate tissue, with blue wavelengths targeting acne bacteria and red wavelengths used to stimulate and calm, and clients and practitioners should wear eye protection. LED is not a laser, and lasers are outside esthetic scope in California. Contraindications include photosensitizing medications, seizure disorders, and recent eye surgery.

Which practice reflects correct electrical safety in a treatment room?

• a.Handling a plugged-in device with wet hands after removing a mask
• b.Leaving all devices switched on and plugged in overnight for faster warm-up
• c.Inspecting cords for fraying, plugging one appliance into one outlet, keeping cords out of walkways, and unplugging by grasping the plug rather than pulling the cord✓
• d.Running several devices through one outlet with a daisy-chained adapter

Cord inspection, one appliance per outlet, clear walkways, and grasping the plug prevent shock, fire, and trip hazards, and equipment should be unplugged when not in use. Overloading an outlet is a leading cause of salon electrical fires. Touching a plugged-in device with wet hands risks electrocution, and leaving units powered overnight is both a fire and an energy hazard.Cal/OSHA