How to Build a Monthly Protocol for Breakout-Prone Skin: A Case Study

Jillian Wright, Licensed Esthetician, built the protocol as a repeatable monthly sequence:

After a course of treatments, the skin of this 40-year-old client — a marathon runner with breakout- and congestion-prone skin — looked clearer, calmer, and more even in tone. The most noticeable change was along the jawline and chin: fewer inflamed breakouts, less pronounced redness, and lighter post-inflammatory marks.

skin that is both congested and reactive calls for a protocol where every active step is balanced by a calming one.

Post-inflammatory marks

After breakouts healed, they left behind darker spots that made the skin tone less uniform and heightened the impression of tired-looking skin.

The effect of training

Regular running means frequent sweating, friction, and prolonged contact between the skin and the outside environment. Sebum, sweat components, and debris can build up on the surface, which makes regular but gentle cleansing especially important.

Surface reactivity

Localized redness along the jawline pointed to heightened skin sensitivity. So the protocol needed to be gentle, without excessive mechanical or active input.

Buildup at the surface

Excess sebum, along with corneocytes, could collect in the follicular openings, making the pores more noticeable and contributing to the formation of closed comedones.

Step 3. Manual Extractions

Step 2. Enzyme Exfoliation with Steam

Step 1. Deep Cleanse

Step 7. Oxygen Dome + Blue LED

What was done: the OxyDome modality of the Zemits OxiVelour PRO paired with blue light (415 nm) from the Zemits VivaLumix for 10 minutes.
Why: the final phase is an environment in which the skin closes out the session.
What happens in the skin: the dome delivers oxygen through three inlets, distributing it evenly over the treated area, forming a localized oxygen-rich environment that supports skin comfort and complements the products applied earlier. At the same time, the blue LED light works on photobiomodulation logic, interacting with light-sensitive structures in the outer layers of the epidermis. The blue light helps improve the look of breakout-prone skin and supports a calmer-looking complexion.

Step 6. Cold Therapy

What was done: treatment of the face with the Zemits ColdRestore, paired with a dense, even layer of Zemits FirmingGenius PRO Conductive Gel with Peptides.
Why: this step is deliberately placed after the active stages rather than before them; it closes out the active phase and moves the skin into a state of comfort.
What happens in the skin: controlled surface-level cooling works at the stratum corneum. The conductive gel keeps contact with the applicator even, while the peptides and aloe in the formula support surface comfort. The skin looks calmer, redness becomes less pronounced, and pores look less noticeable.

Step 5. Cold Plasma

What was done: treatment of the face with cold plasma using the Zemits EvoPlasm.
Why: cold plasma supports a clean surface and prepares it for the products applied next.
What happens in the skin: the plasma creates a controlled field above the skin's surface, supporting its decontamination and a cleaner look to the pores. It also helps prepare the surface for the application of the products that follow.

Step 4. HydroDiamond® Treatment

What was done: treatment of the skin with the HydroDiamond® technology, a modality of the Zemits DermeLuxx PRO — a combination of exfoliation and vacuum hydro-extraction.
Why: the skin needs an even renewal of the surface.
What happens in the skin: the tip lifts residual surface buildup while the vacuum with serum clears it from the surface at the same time. The texture evens out, and the serum supports skin comfort during the treatment — the surface looks cleaner and more even.

What was done: targeted clearing of comedones after the enzyme prep.
Why: this step works best on a softened, hydrated surface.
What happens in the skin: the pore contents are released with minimal mechanical load on the surrounding tissue; the follicular opening is cleared and looks smaller.

What was done: enzyme exfoliation performed on the skin under warm steam.
Why: enzymes work gently — exactly what skin with signs of reactivity needs before extractions.
What happens in the skin: the enzymes loosen the bonds between corneocytes of the stratum corneum, while the steam increases the hydration of the stratum corneum and helps soften surface sebum buildup, preparing the skin for extractions.

What was done: removal of the surface film — sebum residue, sweat, sunscreen, and external debris.
Why: after training, a dense mixed layer forms on the skin.
What happens in the skin: the cleanse lifts the top film from the stratum corneum, the surface becomes uniform, and allowing the active ingredients used in the next step to contact the skin more evenly.