Esthetician State Board Exam Study Guide

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Federal agency that registers all types of disinfectants sold and used in the United States.

Hospital Disinfectants

Chemical disinfectants effective for cleaning blood and body fluids that can be used on any non-porous surface in a salon.

Tuberculocidal Disinfectant

A disinfectant that kills the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Agency created by the U.S. Department of Labor to regulate and enforce safety and health standards to protect employees in the workplace.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

A mandatory document supplied by manufacturers containing safety information about products, including hazardous ingredients, safe handling, use procedures, precautions, and flammability warnings.

Nonporous

Refers to an item made or constructed of a material that has no pores or openings and cannot absorb liquids.

Infection Control

The methods used to eliminate or reduce the transmission of infectious organisms.

Nonpathogenic Bacteria

Harmless microorganisms that do not cause disease or infection.

Pathogenic Bacteria

Harmful microorganisms that can cause disease or infection in humans when invading the body.

Staphylococci

Pus-forming bacteria that grow in clusters like grapes and cause abscesses, pustules, and boils.

Streptococci

Pus-forming bacteria arranged in curved lines like string beans that cause infections such as strep throat and blood poisoning.

Diplococci

Spherical bacteria that grow in pairs and cause diseases such as pneumonia.

Bacilli

Short, rod-shaped bacteria—the most common bacteria type—that produce diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), typhoid fever, and tuberculosis.

Spirilla

Spiral or corkscrew-shaped bacteria subdivided into subgroups such as Treponema pallidum (causes syphilis) and Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme disease).

MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

A highly resistant staph infection that frequently appears as skin infections like pustules, rashes, and boils, which can become systemic if untreated.

Decontamination

The removal of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item's surface, or the removal of visible debris or residue like dust, hair, and skin.

Sanitation

A cleaning process that significantly reduces the number of pathogens or disease-producing organisms on a surface.

Disinfection

A chemical process that eliminates most, but not necessarily all, microorganisms on nonporous living/non-living surfaces, but does not kill bacterial spores.

Sterilization

The highest level of decontamination that completely destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores, typically using high-pressure steam equipment called an autoclave.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATS)

Effective salon disinfectants designed to disinfect nonporous surfaces, typically requiring soaking for $10\text{ to }15\,min$.

Universal Precautions (UP)

An infection control framework centered around the evaluation of each situation individually.

Standard Precautions (SP)

Infection control practices where workers must assume all blood and body fluids are potential sources of infection and wear PPE whenever contact is likely.

Burn Degrees

Classification of burns: 1st degree (epidermis only), 2nd degree (epidermis and dermis, causing blisters), 3rd degree (all skin layers, causing nerve damage), and 4th degree (skin, muscle, tissue, and bone).

Client Intake Form

Also called a client questionnaire or consultation card; filled out by every new client before service to outline medical history, allergies, and contact details.

Client Release Form

A customary written agreement between client and esthetician for a specific treatment, acknowledging that the client understands and accepts all risks involved.

Contraindication

A condition or factor that may prevent an esthetician from performing a specific skin treatment.

Hydrolipidic Film

An oil-water protection film composed of sebum, lipids, sweat, and water that coats the epidermis to protect skin from drying out.

Barrier Function

The skin's natural mechanism that protects against irritation and intercellular transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

Water loss caused by evaporation on the skin's surface.

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)

A protein/hormone that stimulates skin cells to reproduce and heal.

Sebum

An oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands that lubricates and protects the skin and hair.

Keratin

A fibrous protein that forms the primary structural component of skin, hair, and nails.

Skin Receptors

Sensory nerve endings located in the dermis that respond to touch, pain, cold, heat, and pressure.

Epidermis

The outermost, thin protective layer of the skin, containing many nerve endings and composed of 5 layers called strata.

Stratum Corneum

Also known as the horny layer; the top outermost layer of the epidermis consisting of hardened corneocytes that continuously shed (desquamation).

Stratum Lucidum

A thin, translucent clear layer of dead skin cells directly under the stratum corneum, thickest on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Stratum Granulosum

Also known as the granular layer; composed of cells filled with keratin where production of keratin and intercellular lipids occurs.

Stratum Spinosum

Also known as the spiny layer; layer above the stratum germinativum where cells divide and enzymes synthesize lipids and proteins.

Stratum Germinativum

Also known as the basal cell layer; single layer of cells located directly above the dermis where stem cells undergo mitosis to form daughter cells.

Desmosomes

Protein bonds and skin filaments that create strong intercellular junctions between epidermal cells.

Langerhans Cells

Immune cells located in the skin that protect the body from infection by recognizing foreign materials.

Layers of the Skin

The skin structure consisting of the epidermis, dermis (papillary and reticular layers), and subcutaneous tissue (hypodermis).

Dermis

Also known as true skin; underlying layer approximately $25\times$ thicker than the epidermis, supplying skin with oxygen and nutrients through connective collagen tissue.

Papillary Layer

Upper layer of the dermis connecting to the epidermis to form the epidermal/dermal junction, making up $10\text{ to }20\%$ of the dermis.

Reticular Layer

Deeper and denser layer of the dermis consisting mainly of collagen and elastin fibers.

Subcutaneous Tissue

Also known as the hypodermis or adipose tissue; layer below the reticular layer composed of loose connective tissue and fat ($80\%$ fat).