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Beauty Treatment
Aesthetic services and spa treatments are gaining in popularity and are no longer considered only a luxury. The services may include:
- Facial or body waxing hair removal, or wax treatments.
- Facial treatments and body wraps/soaks using different cleansers and lotions.
- Cosmetic application.
- Electrolysis.
There are risks associated with these services. Some of these risks can include bacterial, viral and fungal infections if the beautician is not using good infection-control practices.
Things to Look For Upon entering the salon/spa:
- Does it appear clean?
- Is the area free of dust or items from the previous client?
- Are they just quickly cleaning up around you before starting?
- If it looks “messy” and unorganized, this may be a sign of poor infection control practices.
Before beginning your treatment:
- Has the Personal Service Worker (PSW) washed his or her hands?
- Or has he/she used alcohol hand sanitizer?
- Have all the tools being used for your treatment (for example, tweezers, tools for extractions, tubes and brushes) been properly cleaned, disinfected or sterilized?
- Ask the PSW how these tools were cleaned, disinfected, sterilized.
During your treatment:
- If a needle or blade is going to be used during your treatment, ask if it is pre-packaged or has been sterilized.
- You can even ask them to open it in front of you.
- Single use, disposable items must be used where possible (for example, sponges, wooden spatulas/sticks, cotton swabs, tissues). These items must not be reused.
- Make sure during waxing, makeup application or removal of lotion/cream from one common container, that the PSW uses a spatula, stick, or swab only once, and then throws it away.
- The main rule of thumb to remember is, watch,and ask to make sure there is “ NO DOUBLE DIPPING !!!”
For more information call the Infectious Disease Team of the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.