Texas Esthetician License Practice Exam

Where should you apply paraffin wax application on a client's skin during a facial treatment?

1. Back of the hands

2. Forehead

3. Inside of your wrist

4. Cheeks

The correct answer is: Inside of your wrist

The correct location for applying paraffin wax during a facial treatment is the inside of the wrist. This area of the body is often chosen because it provides a controlled environment to assess how the skin reacts to the wax. Using the inside of the wrist allows for a sensitive area that can help gauge temperature and potential allergic reactions without overwhelming the client with a large application. Furthermore, the skin on the wrist is thin and sensitive, akin to the areas typically treated during a facial, making it a suitable test area to ensure that the paraffin wax treatment will be comfortable and beneficial. Once tested and confirmed safe for the client, paraffin wax can be effectively applied to hands or other areas of the body as needed, but the initial application on the wrist serves an important safety and comfort role in the treatment process. In contrast, applying paraffin wax to areas like the back of the hands, forehead, or cheeks may not provide the same ability to gauge reaction before applying more extensive treatments, or may lead to discomfort if the wax is too hot when applied directly to those areas.