Are treatments for pregnant clients ever restricted?

• A. All treatments are safe for pregnant clients.
• B. Pregnant clients cannot be treated at all.
• C. Only massage is available for pregnant clients.
• D. Some treatments may be restricted; follow board rules and medical guidance as applicable.

Answer: (D)

Pregnancy changes safety considerations for esthetic services; not every treatment is automatically safe for pregnant clients. Because the health of both the mother and fetus can be affected, licensees must evaluate each procedure on a case-by-case basis and follow applicable board rules and any medical guidance. This means some treatments may be restricted or require medical clearance from the client’s physician before proceeding. When in doubt, defer to the physician’s guidance and the board’s regulations, document the decision, and choose only those services that are permitted.

That’s why the best answer is that some treatments may be restricted; follow board rules and medical guidance as applicable. It’s not true that everything is safe, nor that pregnant clients can’t be treated at all, nor that only massage is available.