Compensation for Skin Blistering Following Beauty Treatment

Is it possible to claim compensation for skin blistering following a beauty treatment? After having my hair done a few days ago I experienced a painful sensation after the stylist applied bleach to my hair and now the skin on my head has blistered. I told the stylist it was sore but she said it was normal. I feel very embarrassed and can’t go to work.

Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor

Editor in Chief

Eoin P. Campbell

You can claim compensation for skin blistering following a beauty treatment if it can be proven that the hair stylist performed his or her professional role poorly, had insufficient training or was undoubtedly negligent. It would be in your best interest, therefore, to get to the root of your skin blistering to establish that the beauty salon employee was indeed responsible for your injury.

Beauty salon employees are required to undertake a “patch test” on a client before performing any sort of treatment with a product that could cause potential harm. Even if the client and stylist had worked together before with no negative results, it is generally acknowledged that allergies are unpredictable and can develop in between sessions and so a patch test is required every time. If the stylist did not perform this test at least 48 hours before the administration of the bleach that blistered your skin, the beauty salon will be deemed responsible for causing the damage.

There are some procedures that you should carry out before making your compensation for skin blistering following a beauty treatment claim. The first step you should take is to take two photographs of your injuries – one close-up shot to establish the severity of the blistering and another from a slight distance to show its visibility.

It is also recommended that you see your GP to have the blisters treated medically and the injury recorded in your medical history. Additionally, you should return to the salon and have your injury noted in their “Accident Report Book”, making sure that you maintain a copy for yourself. It is possible that the salon may offer you a small amount of compensation but be aware that this offer may not adequately reflect the impact your injury has had on your quality of life.
By seeking the assistance of an experienced solicitor who can assess your compensation for skin blistering following a beauty treatment claim by evaluating your submission in the salon’s Accident Report Book and the report made by your doctor in your medical history, it could be found that the offer made by the beauty salon may not adequately reflect the amount of compensation you are genuinely eligible for. Factoring in the embarrassment you have experienced and the effect your injury has had on your quality of life, your claim could be worth a lot more than the amount offered by the salon.

Most solicitors will offer a free initial consultation and any questions you may have regarding your individual case can be asked and answered during this session.