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Skin and Scalp Testing - Insurance

We have asked salon insurance expert Martyn Churchward from Marsh Commercial​​ to update us on insurance cover with skin and scalp testing.

 

Suffering an allergic reaction is every person’s nightmare when getting a cosmetic treatment. The benefits are always so obvious, but many of us rarely think about the potential risks we could be exposing ourselves to. It is here that we rely on salons and experts to guide us through the myriad of treatments to find the one best suited to our individual needs.

However, the danger of reactions to particular products is difficult to overcome. Many salons adopt a patch test with customers before undergoing full treatments to make sure any unforeseen reactions can be spotted early and avoid serious damage. But what can salons do if even after these trials, that dream makeover turns into a trip to the emergency room?

The insurance implications of this can be a complicated process, as each insurer will have a slightly different variation of what they think are reasonable precautionary steps taken by salons. Generally, insurers understand that it would be unreasonable to expect a returning customer to be skin tested every time for the same treatment or colour. If the guidelines provided by the makers/suppliers of the product simply recommend that a skin test is carried out before use to check if an allergic reaction occurs, then it would be safe to assume that the salon has complied with the recommendations of that product. If the customer chooses to have any other treatments which use a different product, then the required recommendations would apply. The assumption is each salon will check and adhere to the guidelines or recommendations for the particular product they are using, but without knowing each product’s guidelines, it is difficult to establish if the salon is complying with those particular recommendations.  

So unless there is a specific recommendation and/or requirement by the manufacturers/suppliers of the product that a skin test should be carried out prior to each and every treatment, most insurers should be happy that the recommendations have been adhered to. However, in the event of an alleged or actual injury, insurers may request confirmation of Patch Test Records. It is therefore highly recommended that members keep an up-to-date record of patch test appointments, results and or signatures of clients who have completed a patch test.

If a returning customer has already been skin tested for a particular treatment/product and have had no ill effects but suddenly develops a reaction, it is a fair assumption that, should all other relevant conditions of the policy had been adhered to, then there should not be any restrictions for a successful claim.

If you are interested in finding out more specifically about what coverage your insurance policy is giving you and what is expected from you, speak to your insurance broker.

As a Good Salon Guide member you also get a discount with Marsh Commercial​​, for further information on this offer please click here.