Which term describes events during or after a treatment that indicate the treatment must stop?

• A. Contra-indication
• B. Contra-actions
• C. Blanching
• D. Lanugo hair

Answer: (B)

Contra-actions are events during or after a treatment that indicate the treatment must stop or be altered. They are reactions or adverse responses that tell you something is not tolerating the procedure—things like sudden burning, marked redness, swelling, itching, pain, blistering, or signs of an allergic reaction. When contra-actions occur, you stop the treatment immediately, assess the client, and decide whether to modify or discontinue and refer if needed. This differs from a contra-indication, which is a condition or factor present before or during planning that means the treatment should not proceed or must be significantly adjusted from the outset. Blanching is a temporary whitening of the skin that can happen during treatment and isn’t itself the signal to stop, while lanugo hair is just a type of fine hair and not related to stopping a treatment.