Facial Hair Removal Aftercare and Skin Reactions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is pseudofolliculitis barbae?
- A severe allergic reaction to wax
- Ingrown hairs causing inflammatory papules, commonly known as razor bumps (Correct answer)
- A fungal infection of hair follicles
- Excessive sebum production after hair removal
Correct answer: Ingrown hairs causing inflammatory papules, commonly known as razor bumps
Pseudofolliculitis barbae occurs when removed or shaved hairs curve back into the skin, producing inflammatory papules called razor bumps.
Question 2: Which clients are most prone to developing ingrown hairs after facial hair removal?
- Clients with fine, straight hair
- Clients with very dry skin
- Clients with curly or coarse hair (Correct answer)
- Clients with oily skin
Correct answer: Clients with curly or coarse hair
Curly or coarse hair naturally curves and is more likely to re-enter the skin after removal, leading to ingrown hairs.
Question 3: What is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in the context of hair removal?
- Temporary redness lasting up to one hour
- Darkening of the skin that occurs as a healing response to inflammation or injury (Correct answer)
- Hives caused by an allergic reaction to wax
- Permanent discoloration requiring laser correction
Correct answer: Darkening of the skin that occurs as a healing response to inflammation or injury
PIH is a darkening of the skin that results from the skin's healing response to inflammation, and is more common in deeper skin tones.
Question 4: How long does normal erythema (redness) typically last after facial waxing?
- 5-10 minutes
- Up to 24 hours (Correct answer)
- Several days
- One full week
Correct answer: Up to 24 hours
Normal post-wax erythema resolves within a few hours for most clients but can persist up to 24 hours in those with sensitive skin.
Question 5: Which of the following medications is a contraindication for facial waxing?
- A daily multivitamin
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) (Correct answer)
- An over-the-counter antihistamine
- A topical moisturizer
Correct answer: Isotretinoin (Accutane)
Isotretinoin (Accutane) dramatically thins the skin, making waxing extremely dangerous and likely to cause severe tearing and scarring.
Question 6: What typically causes contact dermatitis when using depilatory creams?
- The pH level of the cream alone
- An allergic or irritant reaction to chemicals such as calcium thioglycolate (Correct answer)
- The cream physically scraping away hair
- Using the cream on insufficiently dry skin
Correct answer: An allergic or irritant reaction to chemicals such as calcium thioglycolate
Contact dermatitis from depilatory creams is usually caused by an allergic or irritant response to calcium thioglycolate, the active hair-dissolving chemical.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of a patch test before applying a new depilatory product?
- To check if the product removes hair effectively enough
- To test for allergic reactions or skin sensitivity before full application (Correct answer)
- To determine the correct application timing
- To verify the product has not expired
Correct answer: To test for allergic reactions or skin sensitivity before full application
A patch test reveals potential allergic reactions or sensitivity to the product's ingredients before applying it to a larger, more visible area.
Facial Hair Removal Aftercare and Skin Reactions 2
What is pseudofolliculitis barbae?