How to Build a Cold Plasma Protocol for Breakout-Prone Skin: A Case Study After 3 Sessions
The client came in with breakout-prone skin: visible comedones, localized breakouts along the lower face, areas of redness, and uneven surface texture. Genesis Galea, Licensed Esthetician, built the protocol around the skin's condition and the client's goals, combining several technologies in a purposeful sequence.
Three sessions — and this 32-year-old client's skin looked calmer, more even, and clearer in the areas of visible breakouts.
Meet Genesis Galea, Licensed Esthetician
This protocol was performed by Genesis Galea — a Licensed Esthetician, educator, and founder of GG Esthetic Studio in Dallas, Texas.
Her approach starts with reading the skin: what the surface is showing, what the client is asking for, and which sequence of steps will create the most balanced visible result.
Her approach starts with reading the skin: what the surface is showing, what the client is asking for, and which sequence of steps will create the most balanced visible result.
Buildup of sebum and dead skin cells in the follicles made individual blemishes more noticeable and shaped the overall impression of the skin.
Client: 32 years old
Main concern: breakout-prone skin
Visible signs: comedones, localized breakouts, areas of redness, uneven surface texture
Course: 3 sessions
Protocol goal: to help the skin look clearer, calmer, and well-cared-for, with a smoother, more renewed-looking surface
Main concern: breakout-prone skin
Visible signs: comedones, localized breakouts, areas of redness, uneven surface texture
Course: 3 sessions
Protocol goal: to help the skin look clearer, calmer, and well-cared-for, with a smoother, more renewed-looking surface
Uneven surface texture
Breakouts created localized unevenness that disrupted how light reflected off the surface, so the skin in these areas looked less smooth.
Visible comedones and localized breakouts
Skin Concerns & Treatment Goals
What the Skin Was Showing
In the breakout areas, the tone looked less even, which made the skin appear more reactive and less calm overall.
Localized
redness
redness
Protocol Logic:
How Each Step Built the Result
How Each Step Built the Result
Genesis built the first, foundational session in the following sequence:
What was done: The Oxygen Serum Infusion modality on the Zemits Verstand HD platform atomized Serum with Glycolic Acid — Zemits LuminOxy PRO — over the prepared skin in a directed stream of oxygen.
Why: To distribute the active formula in a thin, even layer across the freshly cleared surface.
What happens in the skin: The oxygen stream turns the serum into a fine mist that makes even contact with the stratum corneum. Glycolic acid in LuminOxy PRO supports gentle surface renewal and a more even-looking tone. Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water in the surface layers, helping the skin look plumper.
Why: To distribute the active formula in a thin, even layer across the freshly cleared surface.
What happens in the skin: The oxygen stream turns the serum into a fine mist that makes even contact with the stratum corneum. Glycolic acid in LuminOxy PRO supports gentle surface renewal and a more even-looking tone. Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water in the surface layers, helping the skin look plumper.
Step 3. Manual Extractions
Step 2. Enzyme Step
Step 1. Double Cleansing
Step 5. Cold Plasma
What was done: The face was treated with Zemits EvoPlasm cold plasma.
Why: To support a calmer, more well-cared-for look of the skin.
What happens in the skin: The plasma generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) at the surface, providing surface decontamination and temporarily increasing stratum corneum permeability for the ingredients that follow.
Why: To support a calmer, more well-cared-for look of the skin.
What happens in the skin: The plasma generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) at the surface, providing surface decontamination and temporarily increasing stratum corneum permeability for the ingredients that follow.
Step 4. Oxygen Support
What was done: Immediately after manual extractions, the professional oxygen product Circadia Oxygen Rx was applied to the skin.
Why: To support a calmer look of the skin after manual work.
What happens in the skin: This is a comfortable pause between the manual and device-based parts of the protocol: extraction areas look calmer, and the surface is ready for the non-contact work of cold plasma.
Why: To support a calmer look of the skin after manual work.
What happens in the skin: This is a comfortable pause between the manual and device-based parts of the protocol: extraction areas look calmer, and the surface is ready for the non-contact work of cold plasma.
What was done: Manual extractions were performed.
Why: To clear the follicles of visible comedones in the areas of heaviest congestion.
What happens in the skin: After enzymatic loosening, comedone contents release with less pressure on the surrounding tissue. The surface immediately looks cleaner, and the formulas that follow apply more evenly to the freshly cleared skin.
Why: To clear the follicles of visible comedones in the areas of heaviest congestion.
What happens in the skin: After enzymatic loosening, comedone contents release with less pressure on the surrounding tissue. The surface immediately looks cleaner, and the formulas that follow apply more evenly to the freshly cleared skin.
What was done: A Cocoa Enzyme Mask enzyme treatment was applied to the cleansed skin.
Why: To gently loosen dead corneocytes and soften surface buildup before extractions.
What happens in the skin: The surface becomes softer and more pliable, and follicle contents become easier to access for delicate manual work.
Why: To gently loosen dead corneocytes and soften surface buildup before extractions.
What happens in the skin: The surface becomes softer and more pliable, and follicle contents become easier to access for delicate manual work.
What was done: A double facial cleanse using Circadia Cleansing Gel with Salicylic Acid and Skin Script Tea Tree Cleanser.
Why: To remove surface film, makeup, and excess sebum, and to prepare the skin for the next steps.
What happens in the skin: The first cleanse dissolves oil-soluble impurities; the second clears the surface of the stratum corneum.
Why: To remove surface film, makeup, and excess sebum, and to prepare the skin for the next steps.
What happens in the skin: The first cleanse dissolves oil-soluble impurities; the second clears the surface of the stratum corneum.
Step 9. Finishing Care
What was done: A mask, moisturizer, and SPF were applied. Products: Esthemax Purifying Charcoal Hydrojelly Mask, Skin Script Light Aloe Moisturizer, Skin Script SPF, and Skin Script Lip Balm.
Why: To close the protocol with a protective, comfortable finish.
What happens in the skin: The finishing products create a supportive layer over the stratum corneum, helping reduce moisture loss and maintain a smooth skin feel. SPF protects the renewed-looking surface from UV exposure.
Why: To close the protocol with a protective, comfortable finish.
What happens in the skin: The finishing products create a supportive layer over the stratum corneum, helping reduce moisture loss and maintain a smooth skin feel. SPF protects the renewed-looking surface from UV exposure.
Step 7. Cold Therapy
What was done: Conductive Gel with Peptides — Zemits FirmingGenius PRO — was applied to the skin, and cold therapy was performed with the Zemits Verstand HD.
Why: To support a calmer look of the skin after extractions and device steps.
What happened in the skin: Controlled cooling lowers the surface temperature of the treated areas, creating an instant feeling of freshness and a more lifted-looking contour. Puffiness looks less pronounced, and the skin appears calmer. The Zemits FirmingGenius PRO formula works in parallel:
Why: To support a calmer look of the skin after extractions and device steps.
What happened in the skin: Controlled cooling lowers the surface temperature of the treated areas, creating an instant feeling of freshness and a more lifted-looking contour. Puffiness looks less pronounced, and the skin appears calmer. The Zemits FirmingGenius PRO formula works in parallel:
- Peptides support the look of firmer, smoother skin.
- Glycerin and NMF components attract and hold water at the surface, so the skin looks more hydrated and plump.
- Vitamin E and botanical extracts support barrier comfort after renewal.
Step 6. Oxygen Serum Infusion
Step 8. LED Support
What was done: An LED therapy session was performed with the Zemits VivaLumix.
Why: To add light-based support to the skin's refreshed look in the final phase of the session.
What happens in the skin: LED support works through photobiomodulation logic: light interacts with light-sensitive structures in the epidermis. In the closing phase of the protocol, it is a comfortable, non-contact step that supports a calmer, more even-looking complexion.
Why: To add light-based support to the skin's refreshed look in the final phase of the session.
What happens in the skin: LED support works through photobiomodulation logic: light interacts with light-sensitive structures in the epidermis. In the closing phase of the protocol, it is a comfortable, non-contact step that supports a calmer, more even-looking complexion.
gentle cleansing → EvoPlasm → Oxygen Serum Infusion with LuminOxy PRO → Cold Therapy with FirmingGenius PRO → LED support → barrier-balancing moisturizer + SPF
Sessions 2 and 3:
The Maintenance Repeat
The Maintenance Repeat
Visible Result After 3 Sessions
Protocol Synergy:
Why It Worked
Why It Worked
This structure made it possible to repeat the key technology steps without overloading the skin — each session supported and reinforced the visible result of the one before it.
The second and third sessions followed a streamlined sequence:
The client described the treatment as comfortable — with a light tingling sensation during the EvoPlasm step — and was very pleased with the result, expressing the desire to continue the course.
After three sessions, the skin looked:
- clearer, with less noticeable breakouts
- calmer, with a more even-looking tone
- smoother in texture
- fresher and more well-cared-for
The result came from a sequence in which each step prepared the skin for the next. Cleansing, the enzyme step, and extractions evened out the surface and cleared visible congestion. From there, the non-contact technologies and active formulas worked on already-prepared skin, while cooling and LED closed each session with a comfortable, calming phase.
Zemits Technologies Used in This Protocol