What is the standard approach to marking treatment boundaries on the skin during laser hair removal?

• A. Use a thick permanent marker to outline treatment zones
• B. Use a light, skin-safe marker to outline treatment zones, avoiding tattoos and pigmented lesions; ensure consistency with the treatment plan
• C. Mark only at patient request
• D. No marking is required

Answer: (B)

Outlining treatment zones on the skin helps translate the plan into action, ensuring every target area is treated accurately and consistently. The standard approach uses a light, skin-safe marker so the outlines are clearly visible to the clinician but easy to remove and unlikely to cause staining or pigment changes. Marking should avoid tattoos and pigmented lesions because those areas can respond differently to energy and can be difficult to assess if marked over. By keeping the marks aligned with the treatment plan, you minimize gaps or overlaps and maintain consistent coverage across sessions. Using a thick permanent marker is not appropriate due to removal difficulties and potential skin staining, and marking only on request or not marking at all would undermine accuracy and safety.