Colorado Esthetician Written Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The reaction that occurs during a peel when the skin turns white is known as frosting. This specific phenomenon indicates that the chemical solution has penetrated the upper layers of the skin, and it is often a sign that the treatment is effective. Frosting occurs when the proteins in the skin denature due to the chemical solution, leading to a temporary whitening effect. This is particularly common with medium to deep chemical peels, where stronger acids may lead to more pronounced frosting as they create a controlled injury to the skin that stimulates regeneration.

Understanding frosting is essential for estheticians because it provides insight into how the skin is reacting to the peel, allowing for proper aftercare and further treatment planning. It’s a crucial indicator of the peel's depth of penetration and can help in assessing the effectiveness of the treatment.

Other reactions, such as acne formation, chemical burns, or hyperpigmentation, do not necessarily involve the whitening effect of frosting and indicate different skin responses or issues, which should not be confused with the intended outcomes of a peel.