Client Safety, Contraindications, and First Aid
Sorting contraindications
- Absolute (do not treat): active infection or infestation - conjunctivitis, impetigo, ringworm, scabies, lice, active cold sores, warts; open or weeping lesions; sunburn; undiagnosed rashes or growths.
- Defer with physician clearance: uncontrolled diabetes, active cancer therapy, recent surgery, immune suppression, keloid history in the treatment area.
- Modify the service: pregnancy (avoid high heat, electrical equipment, and many essential oils), epilepsy (no galvanic or light-based equipment), pacemaker (no electrical modalities), rosacea or couperose skin (no heat, no aggressive exfoliation), anticoagulants (no aggressive extractions or waxing).
- Medication watch list: isotretinoin, topical retinoids, tetracyclines and other photosensitizers, and blood thinners.
First aid you are expected to know
- Burn - cool running water for 15–20 minutes; no ice, butter, or ointment on a fresh burn; cover loosely and refer if blistered.
- Bleeding - gloves, direct pressure with sterile gauze, elevate, then disinfect the area and the surface; double-bag waste.
- Fainting - lay the client supine, elevate the legs, loosen clothing, cool the room, and monitor breathing.
- Chemical in the eye - flush with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses, and send to medical care with the product label.
- Allergic reaction - stop, remove product, cool compress, document; hives, swelling, or breathing difficulty means emergency services.
- Seizure - protect the head, clear objects, do not restrain or place anything in the mouth.
Safety systems
Keep an incident report and signed consent for every service, an SDS for each professional product, spray bottles labeled with contents and date, cords away from water, and a written emergency plan with posted numbers.
Worked example
A client turns pale and dizzy during a facial. Reasoning: stop the service, lower the headrest, elevate the legs, loosen the collar, and check responsiveness and breathing before reaching for water. Document what happened, what was applied, and what you did. Do not resume the service that day.
Traps
Applying ice or ointment to a fresh burn; flushing an eye for only a minute; treating over an active cold sore; using electrical equipment on a client with a pacemaker; failing to document a refusal or an incident.