When a cancerous growth is present, what should you do during waxing?

• A. Wax around the growth
• B. Avoid treatment on the area of cancerous growth
• C. Treat normally
• D. Discontinue service altogether

Answer: (B)

Safety comes first: a cancerous growth is a contraindication to waxing. The skin over a lesion can be fragile and may react strongly to heat and the pulling action of wax, risking irritation, tearing, infection, or delayed healing. Because of these risks and to avoid interfering with any medical treatment, you should not treat that area at all. You can continue waxing other areas if there are no other concerns, but defer the growth area and advise the client to seek medical clearance before any future service on or around that lesion. Discontinuing service entirely isn’t necessary unless there are no safe areas left to wax.