A contra-indication is a factor which will prevent you from carrying out your treatment, whilst contra-actions are things which may occur as a result of the treatment. You should explain any contra-actions or contra-indications to your client, and outline how this will affect their treatment.
Undiagnosed Lumps and Bumps – If the client has any undiagnosed lumps and bumps you must refer them to their GP for written consent prior to offering treatment.
Hepatitis B and C – If you are advised that your client has been diagnosed with Hepatitis B or C (inflammation of the liver) you should not treat them as it is very infectious and you could pass the infection onto your other clients or even contract it yourself.
It is strongly recommend that waxing practitioners seek advice from their GP about getting vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Please note that there is currently no vaccination available for Hepatitis C.
Heart Conditions – If your client has a heart condition, they may be taking medication to thin their blood. Sometimes bleeding can occur during waxing and this could cause a problem as bleeding can be much harder to stop. It is therefore advisable to refer them to their GP for written consent prior to treating.
Recent Haemorrhage – Your client needs to obtain written consent from their GP before a waxing treatment can be offered. This is because the medicine the client has to take may have an adverse affect on the treatment.
Loss of Sensation – This refers to anyone who has been diagnosed with medical conditions that cause loss of sensation in the skin. Some diabetic clients experience this and cannot be offered treatment because they cannot detect heat and it can be very dangerous if they cannot tell you if the wax is too hot for them.
Cancer Patients – If your client has been diagnosed with any form of cancer and has or is receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy you must not treat without obtaining written consent from their GP prior to offering treatment.
Lymphoedema and Haemophilia – Lymphoedema is the accumulation of lymph in the tissues. It mostly affects the legs and causes swelling.
Haemophilia is a disorder in which the blood clots very slowly. If a client has Haemophila, they will bleed more and so this makes waxing dangerous.
Clients who have been diagnosed with these conditions are not able to have wax treatments.
Allergies – If the client indicates they have had a previous reaction to a wax treatment then treatment must not go ahead. Some clients may have allergies to the ingredients found in wax, such as rosin. If this is the case, you should not treat the client.
The following are contra-indications that will prevent treatment going ahead until the infection or problem has cleared up following treatment by a medical practitioner.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – Do not offer bikini or intimate waxing treatments until the disease has been successfully treated by a medical practitioner.
Prickly Heat – Prickly heat is common in warm climates and is caused by trapped sweat. It appears as an itchy rash of tiny blisters or large reddened areas of the skin. Do not offer wax treatments until the irritation goes completely. If the condition is severe, refer the client to their GP or pharmacist.
Stye (Hordeolum) – This is the inflammation of the eyelid, often the upper lid. This is caused by an infection in the hair follicle. There is swelling and redness, and pain is felt in the eyelid. Scratching or rubbing the infected area could cause the infection to spread. You should recommend that the client goes to the doctors for medication.
Treatment can then be carried out once the condition has been treated and cleared completely.
Impetigo – This is recognisable by the reddening of skin and soon becomes a cluster of blisters or pustules. It is highly contagious, and treatment would cause cross infection. The therapist should recommend that the client goes to see their GP for medication. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Boils – A boil is a painful, red bump on the skin usually caused by an infected hair follicle. As white blood cells fight the infection, pus forms inside and the boil grows larger. Eventually, it will rupture and the pus will drain away. Boils usually occur on the neck, face, thighs, armpits and buttocks. You should recommend that the client goes to see their GP for medication. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Shingles – Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the area of skin around it. It is caused by the herpes zoster virus which also causes chickenpox. Most people have chickenpox in childhood but after the illness has gone, the virus remains dormant (inactive) in the nervous system. The immune system keeps the virus in check, but later in life it can be reactivated and cause shingles. Shingles usually affects a specific area on either the left or right side of the body. The main symptoms are:
• Pain
• A rash which develops into itchy blisters and then scabs over
You should recommend that the client goes to see their GP for medication. Treatment can then be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Ringworm – This is a general term used to refer to a skin infection caused by a fungi called dermatophytes. The condition is known as ringworm because it can leave a ring-like red rash on the skin, it does not have anything to do with worms. It can affect different parts of the body.
Ringworm is highly contagious. It can be passed between people through skin contact and by sharing objects such as towels and bedding. It can also be passed on from pets such as dogs and cats. You should recommend that the client goes to see their GP for medication. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Scabies – Scabies is a contagious skin condition where the main symptom is intense itching. It is caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. Scabies can be spread through:
• skin-to-skin contact for long periods of time with someone who is infected
• sexual contact with someone who is infected
Scabies can also be passed on through sharing clothing, towels and bedding with someone who is infected. However, this is less likely than getting the infection through skin-to-skin contact. The incubation period for scabies is up to eight weeks.
Make sure you recommend that the client goes to see their GP for medication. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Lice – This is an infestation of the hair and body with wingless insects that cause intense irritation. As they cause itching, you can scratch your skin, leaving marks and maybe even causing a rash. They are spread by head-to-head contact and climb from the hair of an infected person to the hair of someone else. Recommend that the client goes to see their pharmacist for treatment. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Mastitis – Mastitis is a condition that causes the breast tissue to become painful, red and swollen. It usually occurs in women who are breastfeeding. Some women may also experience flu-like symptoms. You should not offer wax treatments to a client who is suffering from mastitis until the condition has cleared up. The client’s doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics if the mastitis is caused by an infection.
Infective Conjunctivitis – Infective conjunctivitis is caused by a virus or bacteria. The most common symptoms include:
• reddening and watering of the eyes
• a sticky coating on the eyelashes, particularly when waking up in the morning
You should recommend that the client goes to see their GP for medication. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Herpes Simplex – The herpes simplex virus, or ‘cold sore virus’, is highly contagious and can be easily passed from person to person through direct contact. Once someone has been exposed to the virus it remains dormant most of the time.
However, every so often the virus is activated by certain triggers, causing an outbreak of cold sores. The triggers that cause cold sores vary. Some people frequently suffer from recurring cold sores, two to three times a year for example, while others have one cold sore and never have another. Some people never get cold sores because the virus never becomes active. The client should be recommended to go to a local pharmacy for advice. The treatment can be carried out once the condition has cleared completely.
Use of Steroid Medication – The use of steroid creams or medication can cause a thinning of the skin. Roaccutane (or Isotretinoin), Retin A, or Differin medication for the treatment of severe acne can cause extreme dryness in the skin which often leads to thin or fragile skin. Wait at least six months from completing the course before waxing, or longer if the skin is still fragile. If in doubt, ask the client to obtain written permission from their GP prior to treating.