A Guide To Making A Claim For A Waxing Allergic Reaction

By Mary Scott. Last Updated 21st September 2022. Waxing is a beauty treatment used to remove unwanted hair from different parts of the body. There are some inherent dangers involved in waxing as the procedures are usually carried out on areas of skin which are fragile. That means that those who carry out the procedure should be properly trained technicians. If the correct procedures aren’t followed, it’s possible that the customer will suffer a waxing allergic reaction, burns, torn skin or blistering. In this guide, we’ll consider when you could claim compensation for negligent beauty treatment which caused you to suffer an allergic reaction to waxing.

Here at Legal Helpline, we have a dedicated team of advisors who can help you start a claim against a beauty salon. They offer completely free legal advice and will assess your claim without any obligation to proceed. Should they agree that your claim is strong enough, you’ll be put in touch with a specialist lawyer from our panel. To reduce the financial risks involved with claiming, they’ll handle any case they take on using a No Win No Fee service.

Please contact us on 0161 696 9685 today if you’re already in a position to begin. Otherwise, please continue reading to find out more about when you could be entitled to claim compensation.

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A Guide To Waxing Allergic Reaction Claims

Waxing allergic reaction beauty treatment negligence claims

Waxing allergic reaction beauty treatment negligence claims

When you visit a beauty salon for a treatment, you expect to leave happy with the results. Whether that be tanning, eyelash extensions or hair removal by waxing. Technicians who perform such treatments should be well trained on the correct procedures before being allowed to carry out treatments on customers. That’s because, if waxing is carried out incorrectly, a customer could suffer an allergic reaction or adverse reaction to the products used. Unfortunately, the beauty industry is not very well regulated in the UK, so practitioners don’t need to be licenced.

If you are injured by a hairdresser or beautician or suffer an allergic reaction due to negligent beauty treatment, you could be entitled to claim against the salon’s public liability insurance. Doing so can prove tricky because the salon’s insurer will try to reduce how much compensation is paid or even deny liability because of a lack of evidence. Therefore, our advice is to have a specialist personal injury lawyer represent you. Their job is to try and ensure enough evidence is supplied so that liability can be proven. When that happens, they can move on to gaining the correct amount of compensation for your suffering.

One thing to bear in mind is that there’s a personal injury claims time limit in the UK. This is usually 3 years from the date of your allergic reaction. That may seem like a very long time, but we’d advise you to begin as soon as you’re able to so that the events leading up to the incident are still fresh. Also, your solicitor will require a certain amount of time to collect medical records, witness statements and other evidence to back up your claim.

Please speak to a member of our team once you’ve read this guide and are ready to proceed.

What Is A Waxing Allergic Reaction?

It’s fair to say that allergic reactions to waxing treatment are quite rare. Surprisingly, it happens because your body’s immune system makes a mistake! When it detects certain ingredients being applied to your body which it thinks are dangerous, it sends antibodies to protect you. These antibodies (histamine is the most common) are what cause the symptoms of the allergic reaction. We’ll look at the different types of waxing services offered and how they can lead to an allergic reaction, later in this guide.

What Are Waxing Beauty Treatments?

Waxing is a beauty treatment used to remove hair from different areas of the body. The main benefit of waxing rather than shaving is that the hair generally won’t grow back for up to 6 weeks. The process is carried out by applying wax to the body and removing it so that it pulls the hairs out from their follicles.

Hair removal by waxing is possible on pretty much any part of the body, but some of the most common services are:

  • Bikini waxing.
  • Back waxing.
  • Eyebrow and face waxing.
  • Leg waxing.
  • Arm waxing.
  • Nipple waxing.

There are two types of waxing: strip waxing and stripless waxing. The first is where a soft wax is thinly applied to the area being worked on. Then a piece of paper is applied to the wax and pulled to remove the hair. Stripless waxing using a harder and thicker application of wax. This makes it easier to pull the wax off without paper which is often better for people with sensitive skin.

What Could Cause A Waxing Allergic Reaction?

It’s important to remember that an allergic reaction is different from the damage caused by waxing. Allergic reactions occur because of the ingredients used in the wax rather than the way the treatment was conducted. That said, you could be entitled to claim compensation for injuries caused by a technician who didn’t follow the correct procedures when treating you.

Some ingredients that could lead to an allergic reaction to waxing include beeswax, lanolin, jojoba oil, pine rosins and copolymers.

Symptoms Of Waxing Allergic Reactions

Some common symptoms of allergic reactions to waxing include:

  • Coughing and wheezing.
  • Feeling sick.
  • Rising temperature in the area where wax is applied.
  • Hives – a raised red rash.
  • Blistering and bumps.

The most severe allergic reaction that could potentially occur is an anaphylactic shock, which can be very dangerous because it makes breathing difficult. Later on, we’ll look at steps that can be taken to try and avoid an allergic reaction to waxing.

It’s important to differentiate between normal reactions to waxing and allergic reactions. In most cases, any form of waxing will result in:

  • Bumps and redness.
  • Mild bruising.
  • Spot bleeding and rashes.
  • Itching and a mild burning sensation.

These symptoms are to be expected (and should be explained to you) as part of the waxing treatment. If you’re in any doubt though, you could seek medical advice from your GP to rule out an allergic reaction.

Leg Waxing Allergic Reactions

An allergic reaction to leg waxing is one of the least common. If it does happen, it will usually result in a red rash as well as itchiness. If you’ve been affected by an allergic reaction to leg waxing, get in touch to let an advisor know what happened so that your case can be assessed.

Bikini Waxing Allergic Reactions

Bikini waxing is another form of treatment that doesn’t result in too many allergic reactions. There are two forms of bikini waxing which are popular. The first is simply a wax strip used to remove pubic hair that can be seen above the bikini line. The second is where a larger amount of pubic hair is removed from around the vagina, buttocks and legs. As this area of skin is delicate, it’s easier for damage to occur if the procedure isn’t performed correctly.

If you’ve suffered an allergic reaction or excessive damage after a bikini waxing treatment, please let us know and we’ll explain your options.

Eyebrow And Face Waxing Allergic Reactions

Eyebrow waxing should be a fairly quick procedure with very few problems when carried out correctly. However, as well as an allergic reaction to the ingredients in the wax, there are other factors which could cause you to suffer, including:

  • Using a wax that is too hot.
  • Inadequate training on the procedure.
  • Using equipment which isn’t clean or sterile.
  • Removing the wax strips in the wrong way.

If you’ve suffered injuries or an allergic reaction while having eyebrow waxing, get in touch with us and let us review your eligibility to claim.

Nipple Waxing Allergic Reactions

Waxing of the areola is one of the least painful methods of removing small hairs in the area. In most cases, a trained technician will perform the task with no issues. However, if the wax strips are removed at the wrong time, in the wrong direction or using too much force, the skin could be torn, causing it to bleed. If the injury leaves scarring, cosmetic surgery may be required. Furthermore, it’s also possible to suffer an allergic reaction to the chemicals contained within the wax.

To begin a claim for an allergic reaction to nipple waxing, please let us know and let a member of our team review your case.

Treating Allergic Reactions To Waxing

Allergic reaction treatment varies depending on the symptoms. According to the NHS, they can include:

  • Medicines such as antihistamines (available over the counter).
  • Decongestants to reduce a blocked nose.
  • A moisturising cream or calamine lotion.
  • Steroid medicines (some need to be prescribed by a doctor).

Anaphylaxis caused by a waxing procedure should be treated as a medical emergency by calling 999.

How To Prevent Allergic Reactions To Waxing

The simplest way of preventing a waxing allergic reaction is to do a patch test prior to treatment. This is where a tiny amount of wax is applied to the body to see if there are any symptoms of an allergic reaction. The patch test should be carried out at least 48 hours prior to the treatment.

A competent beauty salon will probably insist that new customers, or customers using different wax to normal, have a patch test before allowing them to be treated. If you suffered an allergic reaction and weren’t patch tested first, get in touch to find out if we could help you claim.

Allergic Reaction To Waxing – Compensation Payout Examples

If you have had an allergic reaction after waxing, and you’ve determined that someone else’s negligence caused your waxing reaction, you could have grounds to make a claim.

In a successful claim, the compensation you receive would be determined by various factors, including the severity of your injury and any impact on your quality of life or finances. The pain and suffering you experience as a result of your allergic reaction to waxing would be compensated under general damages.

Solicitors consider the compensation amounts in the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to assist them in valuing general damages. The amounts in the compensation table below are from the JCG, which was last updated in 2022. However, the payout you would receive may not match the amounts in the table as they are only a guide.

Claim TypeDetailsCompensation Range
AnguishWhere the claimant felt their life was threatened during the allergic reaction.£4,670
Slight allergic reaction.
(non traumatic injury) (b) (iv)		A minor allergic reaction will resolve very quickly (usually within a few days)From around £910 to £3,950
Serious allergic reaction.
(non traumatic injury) (b) (ii)		Severe initial symptoms will occur during the reaction but they will be short-lived and there won't be any long-term effects.£9,540 to £19,200
Severe allergies
(non traumatic injury) (b) (i)		This type of reaction will require hospitalisation for some days (or weeks). The symptoms will continue for the long term and there will be an impact on the claimant's ability to enjoy life and work.£38,430 to £52,500

You may also be eligible to claim special damages. This would compensate you for any related financial losses you have suffered as a result. Read on for more information on special damages or get in touch with us to discuss your claim.

What Other Damages Could I Claim For My Waxing Allergic Reaction?

The compensation listed in the previous section is known as general damages. This is the compensation you could receive for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the allergic reaction to waxing. But that’s not all you can claim for. 

If you’ve incurred any expenses as a result of the negligence that caused you to suffer, you could claim them back as well. This is called special damages and can include:

  • Medical Expenses.
    When you suffer an allergic reaction, your treatment will usually be free on the NHS. However, you could still end up paying out for prescriptions, ointments, creams and other medication used to treat your symptoms. Therefore, you could request these costs to be paid back.
  • Travelling Costs.
    You could ask for the cost of fuel or parking costs to be repaid if they’re linked to medical appointments. On top of this, if you’re not able to drive while recovering, you could ask for the cost of alternative forms of travel to be paid back.
  • Care Costs.
    Should you need somebody to look after you while recovering, you may be able to claim back any costs associated with your care. If a friend or family member supported you, an hourly rate for their time could be calculated and claimed.
  • Lost Earnings.
    In some cases, taking time off work to recover from your reaction might mean your income is reduced. If that’s the case, you may be able to ask for the lost income back. Also, long-term injuries that affect your ability to work could entitle you to claim for future lost earnings too.

You’ll need evidence that shows the extent of your spending to support your claim. Receipts, wage slips, benefit statements and bank statements could all be supplied to your solicitor for that purpose.

Steps To Take If The Victim Of Beauty Treatment Negligence

If you are going to claim for an allergic reaction to waxing, you will need to supply evidence that backs up your claim. Therefore, if you do suffer an adverse reaction, we suggest that you:

  • Seek medical attention for any injuries. Your medical notes can be requested later on to show how you suffered and the treatment you received.
  • Keep records of any correspondence you had with the beauty salon regarding your treatment or injuries.
  • Photograph the injuries at the time of the reaction and as you recover.
  • Write down the details of any witnesses.
  • Get in touch with Legal Helpline to let us review your evidence and provide you with advice on your next steps.

If you require any advice on the type of evidence you require to aid your claim, please check with a member of our team. The advice they’ll provide is free even if you don’t decide to make a claim.

Why Make Your Waxing Allergic Reaction Claim With Us?

Here are some reasons why you should let Legal Helpline support you:

  • We operate our claims line 24-7 so you can contact us when it’s convenient.
  • Our team will provide free advice on your claim and assess it on a no-obligation basis.
  • Our panel of solicitors has worked on personal injury claims for decades.
  • Should your claim be taken on, your solicitor will provide updates as the claim progresses. Also, they’ll be contactable throughout to answer any queries you have.
  • Finally, the solicitors on our panel will always work tirelessly to try and get you the most compensation possible for your injuries.

Reach out to us today if you would like to know any more about how we could help you claim. We don’t charge for our advice even if you decide not to make a claim.

No Win No Fee Waxing Allergic Reaction Claims

While you might think you should be compensated for negligent beauty treatment, you might be concerned about how much it’ll cost. If that’s putting you off, don’t worry because our panel of personal injury solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis for claims they take on.

Before the case begins, your solicitor will assess the merits of the claim. If they’re happy that there’s a chance of success, you’ll receive a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to sign. The CFA funds your claim and has a number of benefits including:

  • You’re not required to pay any fees for the claim to begin.
  • There will be no solicitor’s fees to fund while the claim progresses.
  • If your solicitor fails to win the case, you won’t have to pay any of their fees at all.

To cover the solicitor’s fees in the event of a positive outcome, they’ll deduct a small percentage from your compensation. This ‘success fee’ is legally capped and, so you don’t have to worry, it is listed in the CFA for you to review before you sign.

We’ll let you know if you could use a No Win No Fee service when you’ve spoken to an advisor.

Contact Legal Helpline Today

We aimed to provide information that would help you decide whether to make a waxing allergic reaction claim in this guide. If you’ve decided you’d like to proceed and would like Legal Helpline’s assistance, here’s how to contact us:

  • Phone an advisor for specialist advice about claiming on 0161 696 9685.
  • Ask for a specialist to call you back by filling in this form.
  • Use our live chat channel to ask questions night or day.
  • Email us with an account of what happened to [email protected].

Remember, any claim taken on by our panel of solicitors will be conducted using a No Win No Fee service.

Learn More

We hope that this guide has demonstrated when you could seek damages following an allergic reaction and helped you decide whether you’ll make a claim or not. The following guides and resources have been included as we feel they could be useful. Should you need any further details, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Nail Bar Health And Safety – Advice on health and safety procedures that should be adhered to in nail bars.

Waxing Code Of Practice – Guidance on the operation of waxing services.

Waxing During Pregnancy – Details on whether it’s safe to continue waxing while pregnant.

Burn Injury Claims – Advice on beginning a compensation claim following a burn caused by negligence.

Peanut Allergy Claims – This guide could prove useful if you’ve suffered an allergic reaction to peanuts that weren’t listed on a menu.

Beauty Treatment Claims – A look at other forms of negligent beauty treatment which could entitle you to claim.

 

Guide by BE

Edited by REG