During treatment, what should you do if a patient reports unexpected pain or burning?

• A. Ignore and continue
• B. Pause treatment, assess skin response, possibly adjust energy or spot size
• C. Increase energy to finish quickly
• D. Apply more anesthesia only after completion

Answer: (B)

Pain or burning during laser hair removal means the skin may be overheating or not tolerating the energy. The best move is to pause the treatment, quickly assess how the skin is responding, and then adjust the settings before continuing. Stop briefly to check the treated area for signs of overheating such as excessive redness, warmth, or any blistering, and ask the patient about their comfort level. If heat buildup is happening, reduce the energy (fluence), choose a smaller spot size, or modify the pulse duration to lower the heat delivered per area. Reapply cooling and reassess the skin—only proceed when the patient is comfortable and there are no signs of injury. If burning or persistent discomfort continues, stop the treatment and reassess or reschedule. Ignoring the pain, increasing energy to finish faster, or adding anesthesia after the fact does not address the immediate safety concern and can worsen skin damage.