Of all the treatment modalities skin care professionals routinely use in their work, few seem as controversial and unnerving as comedone extractions. Love them or hate them, comedone extractions play an important role in both the improvement of skin conditions and as an income-boosting skill for those earning a living from an aesthetics practice. Anyone who has been in the field for some time knows that succeeding as a skin care provider is no easy feat. It requires time, patience, study, and a good measure of luck just to stay in the game, let alone make a worthwhile career of it. Professionals need every tool available to them to win business and please clients, though that does not mean it is necessary to employ all of them. Certain procedures prove highly valuable to skin care clients, acne clients in particular, and possibly chief among those is comedone extractions.

CRAFTING SATISFACTION 

Learning to become an expert in comedone removal can be a real boost to any skin care practitioner. When a new client asks, “Do you perform extractions during the treatment?” follow up with a question that reveals the reason for the client’s query, “Why are extractions important to you?” By probing into the client's motivation for desiring an extraction procedure, you can discover what the client is hoping to achieve through and how to prioritize the steps in the facial treatment. Any time someone places an emphasis on receiving attention to comedone removal, communicate intent to perform them and make it clear to the client they will receive it. This removes the guesswork in providing a satisfying client experience and increases the likelihood of earning top reviews and referrals as long as the extractions are performed with care and skill.   

Douglas Preston’s career spans over 40 years in professional aesthetics, acne treatment and training, and aesthetician career mentoring. His business articles appear in many of the top trade journals and magazines and his career growth book, “An Esthetician’s Guide to Growing A Successful Skincare Career,” is a top-seller among ambitious working skin care professionals. Preston is the creator of the celebrated Preston Comedone Rxtractor, a special precision tool for the removal of follicular blockages in skin. In 2022, Preston was inducted into DERMASCOPE Magazine’s acclaimed Academy of Legends, a coveted distinction for spa and skin care professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the growth and excellence of the aesthetics industry.