What is High Frequency Current?

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The high frequency current is an alternating current called the Tesla Current. It can produce a 60,000 to 200,000 hertz frequency, depending on how it is regulated. (The frequency indicates the repetition of the current per second). High frequency treatment may involve placing the electrode directly on the skin (direct high frequency) or leaving a gap between the electrode and skin (indirect high frequency). The glass electrodes are filled with a gas, either Argon (produces a violet/blue ray) or Neon (produces an orange/red ray).

 

The Difference between Argon (violet-blue) & Neon (orange-red) gas:

• Argon – used on acne-type lesions
• Neon – used on general or oily type skin to create warmth in localized area for improved product penetration.

NOTE: It is the ELECTRODE not the machine base unit that determines the different gases.

 

High Frequency Treatment Applications:

1) Direct High Frequency – is an external application that produces a germicidal effect through ozone formation of the skin’s surface, via the glass electrode, where the air sparks between the electrode & the skin combines with oxygen.

 

Use for Direct High Frequency:

• Acne-type lesions using an argon gas electrode for a “sparking” treatment.
• Oily skin with overall congestion using a neon gas electrode for drying and germicidal effects.

Effects of Direct High Frequency: 

• Disinfects skin
• Drying & healing seborrhea/acne
• Provides effluvation – warming sensation to increase skin temperature

Indications for Use:

• Oily, congested skin
• Seborrhea
• Acne

Methods of Use:

1. Apply dry gauze & eye pads. Gauze may be layered to create spark gap.
2. Place electrode in working hand & make contact with finger before placing on skin surface.
3. Increase intensity & move lightly across the gauze in circular movements.
4. Superficial light movements have the greatest intensity.
5. Do not increase spark gap more than 1/4′ (1/2 cm). Continue working for up to 5 minutes.
6. Remove electrode by placing finger on the electrode, lift off the skin.
7. Switch machine off.

Indirect High Frequency:

The use of the current for relaxation & sedation. Unlike the direct method the current flows through the surface of the body, and has a regenerating action.

 

Use for Indirect High Frequency: 

• To aid penetration of a treatment cream/ampule by increasing blood flow in certain areas, whereas infra-red or massage would stimulate the entire face.
• To assist in massage for an aging skin using the indirect method.

Effects of Indirect High Frequency: 

• Stimulates blood lymphatic flow
• Stimulates the heat in the tissue
• Stimulates sebaceous secretion
• Stimulates relaxation effect

Indications for Use:

• Aging & loose skin
• Post-operative skin conditions
• Recent scar tissue (between 4-9 months)
• Clients who dislike firm pressure massage

Method of Use:

1. Prepare skin with massage cream providing slip & glide.
2. Remove all jewelry from client & esthetician as well.
3. Client holds glass saturator electrode.
4. Esthetician places one hand on clients forehead & turns up machine with other hand.
5. Both hands are now placed in contact & rhythmical massage commences over face & upper body.
6. One hand must remain in contact at all times to keep current flow continuous for about 8-15 minutes.
7. Small frictions are beneficial around the mouth & eyes.
8. Release one hand from the client to turn down & switch off the machine.

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Review: IDI’s 3 Day International Skincare Techniques Course

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Sorry it’s taken me so long to write a new post or write a review on my experience at the IDI. I fell out of the groove of writing for a bit but now I’m back…the following review was written the day after I completed the class but I’m just posting here for everyone to read.

4/26/12:

I just completed the International Dermal Institute’s 3 Day International Skincare Techniques course. I like that I received a discount from having attended undergrad student day last year, so the class was $265 instead of $365. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I imagined learning new techniques that I hadn’t learned in school, something specific to an international style not typically used here in the states, especially considering the name of the course. But I discovered the true purpose of this class is to teach their way of cleansing & massaging during a facial. That’s basically all it was.

DAY 1:

On Day 1, we had some theory reviewing the basics – skin layers etc, before watching Deidre (the instructor) demo a cleanse & then having us repeatedly practice it on each other. I used Dermalogica in school so I’m very familiar with their product line but the yellow sponges they use felt much rougher than the kind I buy. You might think that’s a minor thing to note but when it’s being used on your skin repeatedly each day for three consecutive days, it’s not such a small thing after all.

There was homework on Day 1: watch the DVD included with our fee & practice the cleanse steps for Day 2 when we would also learn the 20 minute facial massage because we’d have to put it all together for the test on Day 3.

As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, my skin is acneic & breaks out easily. I had 2 new pimples when I woke up for class on Day 2, despite being clear at the start of day 1. If you have acne & you know how long it can take to clear it up, you can imagine I wasn’t in the best mood at this point.

DAY 2:

There was more theory on Day 2 along with learning & practicing both the cleanse from Day 1 & their 20 minute massage routine using Dermalogica’s Massage Cream. (unless a client has really dry skin, I opt for the Oil Free Massage saving the Massage Cream for hands only but Deidre had everyone use the Massage Cream so we did as instructed)

My skin started to feel raw by the end of Day 2 so I had my partner (Staigen had registered for the class before I did so we partnered after I signed up) skip my decollete because it was literally stinging.

Homework for Day 2 included watching the DVD & practicing both the cleanse & massage at home + an easy paper on skincare basics & the Dermalogica line. A classmate told me she had to work that evening & had no time for the homework so she asked if the steps would be on the board during our test & Deidre advised yes, we would have the steps on the board to follow along during the “test”. This was a big relief given all we were expected to learn in two days. I really wish she had taken the time to set this expectation on Day 1, as she never mentioned it but made it seem like the assessment was based on steps we had to know off-hand!

I’m not sure if it was her first time teaching this class because she ran short on time more than once causing us to have to rush a bit. When asked, she also said we would not receive certificates at the end of the course but then we were stopped by the elevator as we headed home on day 3 & instructed by the front desk girl that she still needed to print & hand out our certificates so maybe Deidre was new to teaching this course, who knows.

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