Esthetician Infection Control 101

Infection control techniques are key to an esthetician’s practice. They go together like sunscreen and anti-aging, like moisturizers and dry winters, like acne and extractions, like—Sorry, we lost ourselves for a second there. You get the idea. Estheticians like yourself are passionate about clean practices that promote healthy, vibrant, and confident clients.

Newer beauty specialists, however, may not fully grasp the gravity of this responsibility. They may not see the financial and reputational harms of ignoring esthetician infection control guidelines the way more experienced estheticians do.

To help specialists across the board, let’s establish the basics of why infection control is important to an esthetician and the essential techniques to follow.

Why is infection control important to an esthetician?

Whether you’re performing lash treatments or facials, your own infection control techniques greatly impact your client’s wellbeing. You’re handling skin, the body’s first defense barrier. Without the right precautions, estheticians may inadvertently exchange harmful bacteria, yeast, fungi, viruses, and even parasites with clients, writes Dasha Saian for Dermascope Digital Magazine. 

You might be picturing the gloveless, hand-to-skin contact you warn all your clients not to do. (You’re probably cringing at the mere thought of unclean hands touching someone’s face—yikes!) But tools and products are to blame, as well.

For example, in 2017, a man sued a hotel spa after allegedly contracting methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from a facial. His esthetician had extracted a blemish from his lip and treated it with a topical cream, ABC7 News reported. Soon after, the man’s lip swelled. He’d contracted MRSA in the open wound, causing tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, his attorney told ABC7 News. Invasive MRSA like this can be life-threatening.

Keep this in mind, too: Records of health, safety, or infection control violations are publicly available, says estheticianedu.org. Beyond a health risk, spas that don’t exercise best infection control practices get poor reviews for sloppiness and negligence. Your business could suffer permanent reputational damage, expensive claims, or worse, closure. 

We don’t say this to scare you. Most likely, you’ve already accepted that esthetician infection control will be a constant part of your skincare career. Still, for newer estheticians or anyone looking to review the essentials, here are some infection control techniques and resources to keep in mind.

How do you prevent and control skin infections in esthetics?

1. Use gloves.

What are the infection control precautions to be aware of? Let’s start with gloves.

Gloves are one of the best infection control techniques an esthetician can utilize. In her previously linked article, Saian says estheticians must use gloves before coming in contact with any of the following:

• Secretions.
• Excretions.
• Bodily fluids (especially blood).
• Mucous membrane.
• Skin that isn’t intact.

This infection control guideline doesn’t exist just for your clients’ safety. As an esthetician, it’s there to protect you, too! Any of these bodily fluids can carry infections, and you must be on high alert with every client, just in case. Otherwise, you could get infected with warts, staph, hepatitis, HIV, or MRSA, to name a few, Saian writes.

2. Clean your tools and workspaces.

What is the most important infection control technique? Besides gloves, an esthetician’s sterilizer and disinfectant are also high on the list.

Any tools and surfaces that touch bodily fluids must be disinfected or sterilized. What’s the difference between sterilization and sanitation? Sterilizing something kills all the germs, whereas sanitizing brings the germs to a safer level. Sanitizing can involve both cleaning and disinfecting, Healthline writes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest cleaning tools and surfaces with regular soap and water before sanitizing or disinfecting. Any clothes, slippers, towels, or sheets your clients use must be thoroughly cleaned, too.

Also, be sure to use salon disinfectant products (and other antimicrobial treatments) registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Cathy Christensen of Skin, Inc. Magazine says to look for disinfectants powerful enough to kill tuberculosis and Polio I. They’re both highly resistant viruses, which makes them a good standard for the strength of your disinfectants, Christensen wrote. 

Finally, esthetician infection control means carefully following instructions for mixing, storing, and disposing of the cleaning products, using protective tools to remove implements from the disinfectant, and separating clean or unclean implements. California’s Board of Barbering and Cosmetology offers such guidelines here. Moreover, never reuse disposable tools like lancets and sponges, the estheticianedu.org article suggests.

3. Protect your eyes.

Estheticians know better than anyone that extractions get messy. There’s one body part where esthetician infection control requires extra care: your eyes. 

Saian recommends goggles or a magnifying lamp to protect your face and eyes from excretions. If any liquid comes in contact with your eye, no matter what it is, flush your eye with water. Look out for symptoms that could warrant a visit to the emergency room, like these provided by doctor Omar Chaudhary for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

4. Provide aftercare instructions.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of possible infection scenarios. (Get it? It’s a microneedling joke and an infection joke all in one.) 

In all seriousness, anything from waxing to microneedling can compromise the skin barrier, leaving clients more vulnerable to infection. However, many estheticians forget to address the infections that happen from poor aftercare, this Scalpa list reminds us.

Aftercare is a powerful infection control technique. Consider writing down, preparing printed cards, or texting clear aftercare instructions. You can’t force your clients to listen. But if their skin gets infected and they try to blame you, having a set policy for aftercare instructions looks great for your defense.

5. Educate your staff and clients.

People are always wondering: How can disease and parasites be spread in a salon? How do I know if a spa is using the best infection control practices? What infection control techniques show that my esthetician prioritizes my safety?

Be proactive and prepare answers to these questions. In fact, you might even implement an explanation into your first sessions with new clients, Christensen says. Take a few minutes to educate them about yours and your staff’s disinfection and safety practices. Additionally, some spas even highlight their practices on their website, she writes in her Skin Inc. article. It gives the impression that cleanliness is top of mind—as it should be!

And, of course, provide routine training sessions for your spa staff. Consider setting a reminder for whatever frequency you find helpful. Industry infection control guidelines and best practices change all the time. (Besides, you can’t know a cleaning routine too well.)

Don’t let upset clients get under your skin.

Estheticians, spa owners, and other beauty specialists need thick skin against upset clients. But you shouldn’t have to face them alone. Whether it’s an expensive allegation or a skin-deep complaint, quality coverage is just as important as a quality disinfectant. Keep your worries (and your worry lines!) at bay with WellnessPro Insurance. Our program is designed to help you glow and shine even more than your clients’ skin. Visit our main website to learn more about our commitment to the wellness industry.