Had a client's face swell up right after a facial in my home studio

It was a standard hydrating facial last Tuesday. I used a new enzyme peel from a brand I trusted. About five minutes after I finished, her cheeks got red and puffy. She said her skin felt tight and hot. I stayed calm, got her a cool compress, and checked the peel's ingredient list against her intake form. Turns out she'd marked 'sensitive to fruit enzymes' but I missed it in my rush. I apologized, gave her an oat mask to soothe it, and drove her to an urgent care to be safe. The doctor said it was a mild reaction and she was fine after some antihistamines. I felt awful. Now I triple-check every single line on client forms before I even open a product. Has anyone else had a reaction happen that fast? How do you handle it in the moment?

3 comments

3 Comments

leo_adams2mo ago

My intake forms need a neon warning sign.

mason_murray2mo ago

Honestly, that sounds like a pretty minor mix-up. A little redness and a trip for some allergy pills isn't the end of the world. You caught it and handled it, so maybe just relax a bit.

ivanb411mo ago

Mason_murray has a point about keeping things in check, but allergic reactions can be a real wild card. What looks minor at first can sometimes get worse pretty fast. It's not about panicking, but taking any mix-up with meds seriously seems like the smart move. Better to be a bit careful than sorry later.