Human Anatomy & Physiology

Contraindications for Waxing
by Andrew Thompson (2006, revised 2011)

Contagious Skin Diseases or Disorders
Some skin diseases are not easily detectable and we rely upon client honesty.  If a client discloses that they have a skin disease, and it is one that the therapist does not consider a contraindication to treatment, the following precautions must be taken:

• Waxing must be performed with hard wax, not strip wax;
• Wooden spatula must be used once only, and not both ends of the stick;
• Gloves must be worn at all time;
• All surfaces must be wiped thoroughly down with alcohol afterwards;
• All metal instruments used during treatment, eg tweezers, must be sterilised in an autoclave.

Visible Skin Trauma
If someone presents with visible skin trauma, the area is to be avoided.

Lesions, Sores, and Open Wounds
If someone presents with lesions, sores or open wounds, the area is to be avoided.

Post-Surgical Scarring
Post-surgical scarring is very deep and takes a long time to heal fully.  For that reason, we do not wax over areas of scarring less than six months old, or that reopens periodically.

Keloid or Hypertropic Scarring
Clients who are genuinely prone to keloid or hypertrophic scarring must be thoroughly informed that there is a risk of skin trauma resultant from waxing, and that it is their decision if they go ahead with the treatment.  These clients must only be treated by senior therapists, who have the final call on whether to perform the treatment or not.

Sunburn
Skin showing signs of redness from sun or solarium exposure must not be waxed.

Very Dry Skin
Skin damage or tearing can occur where skin is very dry, typically in men.  In some instances, dry skin will attempt to absorb the moisture from the wax and this makes it very difficult to remove and heightens the chance of skin trauma.  Extra caution should be taken with dry skin.  Applying a very light layer of pre-wax oil before strip waxing is beneficial.

Thin Skin
Thin skin can result for many reasons, such as diabetes, aging, use of prescribed skin care creams, and off-the-shelf depilatory creams and sprays.  Extreme care is to be taken.

Pregnancy less than twelve weeks
While there is no medical evidence to suggest that waxing can harm an unborn child, it is wise to err on the side of safety during the first trimester of pregnancy.  No waxing treatments are to be performed during that time.

Severe Pain
While a client may not say that they are in pain during a wax treatment, it doesn’t mean that they are not.  Severe pain presents in varied ways, including excessive sweating, body language, jerking, and while the client may seem at ease, unbearable pain puts both the client and therapist at risk. 

For example, if they suddenly jerk their leg towards the therapist’s face as has happened in the past.  Always be aware of what your client is experiencing, and usually, a good bedside manner is enough to calm the client down.

Fractures, Sprains, and Broken Bones
If someone presents with fractures or broken bones, no body part is to be treated, as they could strain the break by tensing etc.

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