Client Consultation and Contraindications
What this domain tests
Consultation questions test informed consent, history-taking, contraindication recognition, and the decision to proceed, modify, or refer.
Core rules
- Use a written intake and ask about medications, allergies, pregnancy, skin disease, recent procedures, and products used at home.
- Absolute contraindications for many facial services include active infection, open lesions, fever, contagious conditions, and recent surgery without clearance. Precautions include pregnancy, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and photosensitizing drugs.
- Isotretinoin and topical retinoids increase fragility and delay healing; avoid waxing, strong exfoliation, and aggressive extractions.
- Blood thinners and some supplements increase bruising; avoid vigorous massage and extractions.
- Patch-test products when the history suggests sensitivity. Document consent, products, and adverse reactions.
- Refer suspected disease, suspicious lesions, and conditions beyond scope to a physician.
Worked example
A client wants a brow wax and says she started tretinoin two weeks ago. Decision: do not wax. Reasoning: retinoids thin the stratum corneum and impair healing, so waxing can remove skin and cause erosion; offer tweezing only if the skin is intact and the client agrees.
Traps
Thinking a doctor's note removes all risk; treating a contraindication as a preference; relying on the client's memory instead of a written list; proceeding with an active cold sore; failing to document the refusal.