Skincare treatments are one of the most regularly requested services at salons and spas. Face masks, peeling treatments and CBD-infused skincare are just some of the many ways that salons and spas are able to respond to the latest trends and help customers maintain the glowing skin everyone is seeking. However, these treatments are not risk-free, and managing that risk with awareness, training and insurance is critical to protecting customers, staff and the business.
As you likely know, some skincare products can cause burns and irritation to customer’s skin. Poor mixing of products or a lack of understanding of the products in use can, in some cases, even cause scarring burns, which would be devastating to customers.
Similarly, chemical peel treatments can cause other side effects to clients. In addition to scarring, these services can cause infections and skin color lightening or darkening depending on the circumstances. While, in some cases, issues like slight skin color changes are unavoidable, estheticians often know how to take steps to minimize the risk of harm.
These accidents and injuries would be devastating to clients, and we know that’s your first concern. However, these can also result in expensive lawsuits and insurance claims for salons and spas. Without proper insurance, these risks can prove rather costly for salons and spas. Securing proper insurance is a very important step to take, but there are other practices beauty businesses can implement to mitigate their risks.
First, salon and spa staff and estheticians should ensure they have a thorough understanding of the skincare products they use. Proper product knowledge can help prevent burns and scarring. Much like dealing with haircare risks, the other significant step beauty businesses should take is ensuring their staff is properly trained to provide the services they are offering. Properly trained estheticians should be aware of potential exposures and trained to work as carefully as possible.
Furthermore, estheticians working with clients that already have irritated skin run the risk of exacerbating existing issues without proper preparation. Before offering treatments, estheticians should take the time to understand their clients and any associated risks that may come from treating them, and in general they should avoid working with already irritated skin as they could be held responsible for damages.
Skincare treatment risks are dangerous for both clients and beauty businesses. Irritation, scarring, skin color changes and more are potential exposures that could turn into injuries and expensive claims. Proper product knowledge, client understanding, and training can go a long way towards mitigating these risks and keeping salons and spas safe.
Kathy Lopez, Account Manager for SASSI, the Salon and Spa Specialty Insurance program at Brownyard Group. She can be reached at klopez@brownyard.com.
