Utah Master Esthetician Practice Exam

Which type of lesion can have dilation performed with a lancet?

1. Closed comedones

2. Pustules

3. Open comedones

4. Blackheads

The correct answer is: Open comedones

The correct answer pertains to open comedones, which are commonly known as blackheads. Dilation with a lancet is a technique often applied to facilitate the extraction of material from lesions that have a visible opening on the surface of the skin. Open comedones have a dilated pore that is filled with sebum and dead skin cells, making them easier to extract through this method. When a lancet is used, the practitioner can gently pierce the obstruction at the surface, allowing the contents to be expressed more easily without causing significant trauma to the surrounding skin. This technique is particularly effective for lesions that are already open and can accommodate the tool without the risk of injury or infection. In contrast, closed comedones, which appear as small flesh-colored bumps under the skin, do not have an open surface for dilation and thus are not appropriate for this technique. Pustules, which are inflamed lesions filled with pus, may require a different approach as they involve infection that should not be managed simply by dilation. Blackheads, while another term for open comedones, tend to be categorized distinctly in clinical terminology, so specifying "open comedones" highlights the need for a specific type of lesion for the procedure described.