Free VA Esthetician Exam Flashcards

The stratum germinativum (basale), the deepest epidermal layer. New cells are pushed upward through the other four layers as they mature and eventually die.

It is a clear, extra-thick layer that develops only where skin experiences the most friction and pressure, giving palms and soles added protection that other body areas do not need.

The stratum corneum is made of dead, flattened keratinized cells (corneocytes) that form the skin's main physical barrier against water loss and pathogens; it sheds continuously.

The papillary layer is the upper, thinner dermis containing capillaries and nerve endings; the reticular layer beneath it is thicker and dense with collagen and elastin fibers that give skin strength and elasticity.

Yes. The skin's acid mantle sits at roughly pH 4.5-5.5; a pH 4.5 toner is compatible and helps maintain the mantle's protective, slightly acidic barrier against bacteria.

O/W suspends oil droplets in a water base and feels lighter, absorbing quickly - common in day lotions. W/O suspends water droplets in an oil base and feels heavier, better for very dry skin or night creams.

Glycerin is a humectant - it attracts and holds moisture from the air into the skin. An emollient (like an oil) instead softens skin and seals existing moisture in rather than drawing new moisture in.

These are likely milia - keratin trapped under the skin with no visible follicle opening to the surface. Because there is no opening, they require a lancet or referral rather than standard extraction.

Rosacea is a chronic vascular condition with persistent redness and telangiectasia (visible dilated capillaries) that flares with heat, spice, or stimulation; dehydration redness is usually diffuse and temporary, improving with hydrating products.

Hyperpigmentation is excess melanin production, often from sun exposure, hormones, or inflammation, creating dark patches. Estheticians can help fade it with exfoliation, brightening ingredients, and diligent SPF, but cannot treat underlying medical pigment disorders.

A keratoma - a thickened, superficial patch of skin caused by pressure or friction and made of built-up keratinized cells. It is a benign, common finding rather than a lesion needing referral.

Basal cell carcinoma. It grows slowly and rarely spreads to other organs, unlike squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, but it still requires prompt medical referral if suspected.

The ABCDE rule (Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over 6mm, Evolving) flags possible melanoma - the most dangerous skin cancer. Refer the client to a dermatologist immediately and do not treat the area.

A primary lesion is the original, unaltered presentation of a skin condition (like a macule or papule); a secondary lesion develops afterward from a primary lesion through trauma, scratching, or healing (like a scar or crust).

Squamous cell carcinoma often presents as a scaly, crusted lesion and, unlike basal cell carcinoma, carries a meaningful risk of metastasizing to other parts of the body if left untreated.

Anagen is the active growth phase when the hair is firmly attached to a nourished papilla and fully pigmented, giving treatments like waxing or laser the best chance to affect the follicle.

This is hirsutism, which is hormonally driven (often from androgen excess). Hypertrichosis is excess hair growth NOT related to hormones - it can be genetic or drug-induced and occurs in any pattern or location.

Catagen is the short transitional phase where the follicle shrinks and detaches from the papilla, preparing to enter the resting (telogen) phase before eventual shedding.

Sanitation (lowest - reduces germ count on surfaces), disinfection (kills most organisms but not bacterial spores), sterilization (highest - kills all microorganisms including spores, typically via autoclave).

Alcohol wipes sanitize surface germs but are not equivalent to an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant and cannot achieve sterilization; multiuse metal tools need an EPA-registered disinfectant or sterilization (autoclave) for full disease prevention.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Only EPA-registered disinfectants are approved for use on tools and surfaces in a professional skin care setting.

Discard it immediately after use. Single-use/disposable items are never sanitized, disinfected, or reused on another client - reuse is a sanitation violation.

Stop the service, glove if not already gloved, apply pressure and a bandage to the site, and disinfect any contaminated surfaces or tools - treating all blood as potentially infectious regardless of the client's known health status.

HBV can survive on surfaces for up to 7 days and is far more easily transmitted than HIV, which does not survive long outside the body - making strict disinfection protocols essential even without visible blood.

In a labeled, puncture-resistant sharps/biohazard container - never in a regular trash bin - to prevent injury and bloodborne pathogen exposure to staff or waste handlers.

It documents allergies, medications, medical conditions, and contraindications so the esthetician can customize or refuse a service safely - it is a legal and safety requirement, not just paperwork.

Fitzpatrick I is very fair skin that always burns and never tans, meaning it carries the highest risk for sun damage, burns from heat-based treatments, and post-treatment sensitivity - requiring gentler protocols and more SPF emphasis.

Refuse the waxing service. Accutane use is an absolute contraindication for waxing for roughly 6-12 months after stopping, because it thins the skin and risks tearing or scarring.

Sunburned skin has a compromised, inflamed barrier; exfoliation or peels would worsen the damage, increase pain, and risk further injury until the skin heals.

No - high-frequency current and certain essential oils are typically avoided during pregnancy as a precaution. Adjust the treatment plan to pregnancy-safe products and modalities.

Cleanse, exfoliate, extract, mask - each step prepares the skin for the next; masking follows extraction because it treats and calms skin after any manipulation.

Effleurage - a light, gliding stroke that introduces touch gently at the start and signals the massage's completion at the end, without the more intense manipulation of other movements.

Petrissage - a kneading motion (lifting, squeezing, rolling tissue) that increases local circulation, distinct from effleurage's light gliding or tapotement's percussive tapping.

BHA (like salicylic acid) - it is oil-soluble and penetrates into the pore itself, making it ideal for oily/congested skin, unlike AHAs which are water-soluble and work mainly on the skin's surface.

A patch test on a small area of skin, to check for adverse or allergic reactions before committing to full-face application.

It stops the acid's chemical reaction on the skin at the appropriate time, preventing over-exfoliation or chemical burns from prolonged acid contact.

The high-frequency machine - it produces a mild electrical current that kills bacteria on the surface and boosts circulation and oxygenation, commonly used after extractions.

Desincrustation - the galvanic machine's negative-pole process that emulsifies sebum and softens debris in the follicle, making extractions easier and less traumatic.

A Wood's lamp - it fluoresces different skin conditions (oiliness, dryness, certain bacteria/fungus, pigment irregularities) in distinct colors to aid analysis, unlike a magnifying lamp, which is only for close-up visual inspection.

A clay or mud mask - its absorbent minerals draw oil and impurities out of the pores, making it ideal for oily and acne-prone skin types.

Cream masks are formulated to hydrate and nourish rather than absorb oil, which suits dry or mature skin that needs moisture, unlike clay masks that would over-dry that skin type.

Use a complementary color corrector (green neutralizes red) before foundation - complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel and cancel out unwanted tones.

Soft wax - applied thin and removed with a cloth strip, it is efficient for large, flat areas like the back or legs, whereas hard wax is better suited to small or coarse-hair areas.

Apply wax in the direction of hair growth, then remove (or pull the strip) against the direction of growth - this grips the hair shaft fully and removes it cleanly from the root.

It is a cross-contamination risk - reusing a spatula that touched a client's skin introduces bacteria into the shared wax pot, which then contacts every future client. A fresh spatula is required for every dip.

Completing 600 hours at an approved Virginia esthetics school, or completing a 2,000-hour apprenticeship - both routes lead to the same NIC theory and practical exams administered by Prov, Inc.

16 years old. Notably, Virginia does not require a high school diploma to become a licensed esthetician.

Every 2 years, and Virginia currently requires NO continuing education hours for esthetician license renewal - unlike many other states.

Under 2 years lapsed: pay the reinstatement fee (about $240 total) to reactivate. Over 2 years lapsed: the license cannot simply be reinstated - a new application and retesting are required.

No. Hair cutting falls under a cosmetology license, and procedures that go beyond superficial skin treatment fall outside an esthetician's legal scope of practice in Virginia - these require a different license or physician supervision.