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• How-to: Pigment Treatment Protocol for Fitzpatrick Skin Type III

  How-to: Pigment Treatment Protocol for Fitzpatrick Skin Type III

  Editor's note: As always, Skin Inc. magazine recommends that skin care professionals obtain the proper training before offering any new treatments in their skin care facility.

  This client is 50, of Japanese decent, and suffers from a post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) condition. It is important to note that Asian skin is prone to sensitivities and irritation, and is genetically predisposed to scarring because the skin has a thinner stratum corneum. This unique global skin type is also at high risk for hyperpigmentation; therefore, careful selection of professional products is prudent. With skill and appropriate product selection coupled with depth of knowledge for the Asian global skin type, success can be achieved. Although many pigment injuries can take weeks and months to resolve, a minimum of eight treatments is recommended. This is a very stubborn and challenging skin condition, and you may not see improvement until the sixth treatment. Hyperpigmentation is a permanent injury to the melanocyte cell and can reappear in as few as eight days if treatment and professional products to treat the condition are suspended.

  Skin must be pre-treated with home-care maintenance for up to 16 weeks, depending on skin of color type and pigment morbidity propensity. Also, it is very important to monitor your client, carefully examining the skin with a Wood’s lamp before each treatment. This will assist you in determining how much of the transient pigment is under control.

  Cost: $95–125

  Duration: 45 minutes

  Contraindications: Contraindications of a chemical treatment on any skin type should always be a consideration when implementing application. Every esthetician who uses peeling modalities on a regular basis in their treatments must develop specific guidelines and techniques to avoid PIH, irritation and discomfort and understand all risks. Serious complications are extremely rare, usually only occurring after the deep chemical peels.

  Supplies and equipment needed:

  Soft, nonabrasive cloth

  Cotton pad

  4 x 4 gauze applicator

  Large cotton-tip applicator

  Products needed:

  Creamy noncomedogenic cleanser

  Hydrating rinsing mist

  Salicylic exfoliating cleanser

  AHA pre-treatment solution

  Tyrosinase pigment cell clarifier

  Gel lactic 30% solution

  Gel cooling mask

  Tyrosinase skin-bleaching fluid

  Antioxidant serum

  Retinol serum

  Hydrating ceramide serum

  Stem cell serum

  Hyaluronic acid gel

  Anti-inflammatory aloe cream

  SPF 30 sunscreen

  Camouflage makeup with SPF protection

  Step 1: Remove all makeup from the facial skin using a creamy noncomedogenic cleanser. Using efferlauge strokes, cleanse skin and follow with a thorough removal of decayed dermal debris using clean, tepid water and a soft, nonabrasive cloth. Avoid too much irritation.

  Step 2: Spray cleansed area with a hydrating rinsing mist.

  Step 3: Apply a salicylic exfoliating cleanser to the entire face and chest. Remove cleanser with clean tepid water and a soft, nonabrasive cloth.

  Step 4: Spray skin with hydrating mist to ensure all traces of cleanser have been flushed from the skin.

  Step 5: Using a cotton pad, apply an AHA pre-treatment solution to the cleansed area. Do not scrub the skin; instead, gently and thoroughly saturate fatty acids on the skin surface. Allow fluid to dry thoroughly.

  Step 6: Spread a generous amount of a tyrosinase pigment cell clarifier over the entire area. Be sure all areas to be treated are completely coated.

  Step 7: Using a 4 x 4 gauze applicator, spread a gel lactic 30% solution evenly across pigmented facial zones. Leave this solution on the skin for no more than one minute. Neutralize the solution with cool water and thoroughly flush all traces of the product from the skin using clean gauze. After the third treatment in the series, graduate to lactic 50%, carefully following the instructions on the product. (Editor’s note: Before using these percentages of acids, you must confirm with your state’s rules and regulations that it is within your scope of practice to do so. It varies from state to state. Log on to www.SkinInc.com/education/statelicensing for complete contact information for each state’s board.)

  Step 8: Spray the skin again with hydrating rinsing mist.

  Step 9: Apply a gel cooling mask for five minutes.

  Step 10: Saturate a large cotton-tip applicator with tyrosinase skin bleaching fluid and apply on dark pigmented areas. Your goal here is to accelerate the lightening of the darker areas to match the normal value of the skin.

  Step 11: Using the fingertips, coat skin with a generous amount of antioxidant serum over the bleaching fluid.

  Step 12: Follow with an application of a retinol serum all over the face.

  Step 13: Using the fingertips, spread a minimum of 3–5 drops of a hydrating ceramide serum over the entire affected facial area, including the neck. Wait two minutes before the next application step to stabilize the inner cellular substances of the stratum corneum. It is normal for the skin to feel some stimulation after this step and your client may remark that stinging is occurring. Stimulation from AHAs or any peeling agent subsides within a few minutes after applying cool or cold water to the skin during removal; however, in the event of persistent irritation (which is rare), application of an aloe cream or ice is recommended.

  Step 14: Using the fingertips, apply a stem cell serum followed by an application of a hyaluronic acid gel over entire treated area.

  Step 15: Spread a thin coat of a light anti-inflammatory aloe cream over treated skin.

  Step 16: Apply a retinol cream over the entire face using your fingertips and gently massage it into skin until it disappears.

  Step 17: Apply a generous amount of SPF 30 over the entire face and neck area.

  Step 18: Complete the treatment by applying skin camouflage makeup with SPF protection. The client should avoid direct contact with sun, and always wear a hat or carry a parasol when outdoors.

• A Global Service Outlook

  A Global Service Outlook

  By Linda Harding-Bond

  As the world becomes smaller and new demographic markets emerge, the opportunities to work on a global clientele are increasing. If you want to attract a multicultural audience, you must have a global service outlook that will suit every ethnicity. Following is a cheat sheet for skin care professionals who want to attract and keep an ethnic clientele.

  Smile. A smile is a universal welcoming signal that crosses all boundaries and immediately puts your client at ease. Initial chatting may be more expected among different ethnic groups, so bump up your charm a bit.

  Interview your client. Every client’s skin is different, based upon how she lives her daily life, genetics, and what she uses on her skin. Don’t assume anything; just ask.

  Don’t categorize your clients. Knowing the Fitzpatrick Classification Scale is not enough. Check skin for hyperpigmentation, which may indicate trauma, and will provide considerable information for you about what products can be used on the client’s skin.

  Make the client comfortable. If your wraps and robes are skimpy and you have a plus-sized client, recommend that she forgo the wrap and just climb under the sheet. Also, if your client has a hairstyle that is not washable, offer her an additional headband or even a shower cap, especially if heavy steam is involved.

  Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse. The more glamorous ethnic clients are often huge fans of cream-to-powder makeup formulations and pigment-rich eye shadows. Consider using makeup remover and work it into the skin first before cleansing. Never hesitate to perform a third gentle cleansing if necessary, but do not scrub the skin.

  Use your loupe. Look past the color to the skin. I recently had a Latina client who had fine capillary activity and redness on her cheeks that was visible only under the loupe. It turned out that her father was Irish and suffered from rosacea. I modified her facial accordingly.

  Be gentle. It is a common belief that the darker the skin tone, the rougher the skin can be treated. The opposite is true. Here’s the rule of thumb: If it causes pain to your client, it is probably causing hyperpigmentation, as well. Be gentle!

  Avoid extractions during the initial facial. A good rule for the first facial is to provide clients with skin that is polished, luminous and smooth to the touch. They always return, and this is when you start focusing on in-depth cleaning.

  Watch your time. Because there is such a dearth of information and skin care professionals who truly understand ethnic skin, many ethnic clients will have a myriad of questions. Add a minimum of five additional minutes to the normal amount of time you allow yourself for product recommendations when working with a new client with skin of color.

  Check in later. This, of course, is customer service 101, but with your ethnic clients, you are certain to score huge points if you call them later in the week to see how their skin is doing after a facial. This is also a perfect way to offset concerns about possible skin reactions. Just be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to chat.