Cooling & Pain Management Flashcards

Which oral analgesic is generally preferred before laser hair removal in patients without contraindications to reduce procedural discomfort?

Answer: NSAIDs such as ibuprofen taken 30–60 minutes before treatment

NSAIDs taken 30–60 minutes before treatment reduce prostaglandin-mediated pain and inflammation, offering effective pre-procedural analgesia without the risks of opioids or sedatives.

A cooling tip shows condensation and frost buildup during treatment. This indicates:

Answer: A malfunction or over-cooling that may cause cryo-injury to the skin

Frost or ice formation on a contact cooling tip indicates it is colder than intended, increasing the risk of cold-contact injury (cryo-burn) to the epidermis.

When treating a darker skin type (Fitzpatrick V–VI) with a diode laser, the cooling protocol should be:

Answer: More aggressive (longer pre-cooling and higher cooling levels) due to higher epidermal melanin competing for laser energy

Higher epidermal melanin in darker skin types absorbs more laser energy, generating more heat in the epidermis; more aggressive cooling is essential to prevent epidermal damage.

Post-treatment application of a hydrocortisone 1% cream after laser hair removal is primarily intended to:

Answer: Reduce perifollicular erythema and inflammation (perifollicular edema)

Mild topical corticosteroids reduce the perifollicular inflammatory response (redness and swelling around treated follicles), improving patient comfort and cosmetic appearance immediately after treatment.

Which statement about vibration analgesia (e.g., Buzzy device) in laser procedures is correct?

Answer: It activates gate control pain modulation by stimulating large Aβ nerve fibers

Vibration analgesia exploits the gate control theory of pain: stimulation of large-diameter Aβ fibers inhibits pain signal transmission via smaller C and Aδ nociceptive fibers at the spinal dorsal horn.

If a patient experiences a vasovagal response (fainting) during a laser procedure, the first response is to:

Answer: Stop treatment, lower the patient's head below heart level, and monitor vitals

A vasovagal response reduces cerebral perfusion; stopping treatment and positioning the patient supine (or Trendelenburg) restores blood flow to the brain and prevents injury from falling.

Which cooling method is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with cryoglobulinemia or cold urticaria?

Answer: Contact cooling or cryogen spray cooling due to cold-induced reactions

Patients with cryoglobulinemia or cold urticaria experience pathological reactions to cold (protein precipitation or histamine release); any cold-based cooling method can trigger systemic or local adverse reactions.