Laser Hair Reduction Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Client Assessment and Contraindicationsmedium

   A Fitzpatrick type III client arrives for her third session with a fresh tan from a beach holiday last week. What is the safest action?

   1. ATreat at the usual settings
   2. BIncrease the fluence to overcome the tan
   3. CPostpone treatment until the tan fades
   4. DTreat after applying fake tan
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Postpone treatment until the tan fades

   A recent tan increases epidermal melanin and the risk of burns and pigment change, so treatment is postponed until the tan fades. Increasing fluence would raise the burn risk further, and self-tanning products are also avoided before treatment.

2. Question 2Client Assessment and Contraindicationshard

   A client wants upper lip hair reduction and reports frequent cold sores on the lip. What is the most appropriate step before treatment?

   1. ATreat, then advise lip balm afterwards
   2. BRefuse any lip treatment permanently
   3. CRefer for medical review of antiviral cover
   4. DTreat only while a cold sore is present
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Refer for medical review of antiviral cover

   Laser heat can reactivate herpes simplex, so clients with recurrent perioral herpes should be reviewed by the supervising doctor for antiviral prophylaxis before treatment. Treating over an active lesion is contraindicated.

3. Question 3Complications and Their Managementmedium

   Two days after treatment of the bikini line, a client develops red pustules centred on hair follicles. What is the most likely cause?

   1. AFolliculitis
   2. BParadoxical hypertrichosis
   3. CHerpes zoster
   4. DAllergic contact to the eyewear
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Folliculitis

   Folliculitis can follow laser treatment, especially in areas prone to friction and ingrown hairs, and usually responds to hygiene measures and medical review. Paradoxical hypertrichosis causes increased hair, not pustules.

4. Question 4Infection Control, Consent and Ethicsmedium

   Which details must be recorded after each laser hair session?

   1. AOnly the date and the client's full name
   2. BOnly the area treated and the price paid
   3. COnly whether the client was satisfied overall
   4. DDevice, settings, area treated and skin response
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Device, settings, area treated and skin response

   Complete records of device settings, the area treated and immediate skin response allow safe adjustment of later sessions and are essential if an adverse event occurs. Minimal records do not support safe practice or investigation.

5. Question 5Skin and Hair Biologyeasy

   A client asks why laser treatment has not reduced her white hairs. What is the reason?

   1. AWhite hairs are always in the telogen phase
   2. BWhite hairs grow from much deeper follicles
   3. CWhite hairs grow too fast to be treated
   4. DWhite hairs lack melanin to absorb the light
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. White hairs lack melanin to absorb the light

   White and grey hairs contain little or no melanin, so they absorb almost no laser energy and do not respond; other methods such as electrolysis are needed. White hairs go through normal growth cycles.

6. Question 6Laser Physics and Light-Tissue Interactionmedium

   According to selective photothermolysis, how should the pulse duration relate to the thermal relaxation time of the target?

   1. AIt should be much longer than the target's thermal relaxation time
   2. BIt should be unrelated to thermal relaxation time
   3. CIt should match the treatment interval in weeks
   4. DIt should be equal to or shorter than the target's thermal relaxation time
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. It should be equal to or shorter than the target's thermal relaxation time

   Selective heating requires the pulse to be about equal to or shorter than the target's thermal relaxation time so that heat is confined to the target rather than spreading to surrounding tissue. Much longer pulses allow heat to diffuse and reduce selectivity.

7. Question 7Laser Safety and Regulationhard

   A client asks for laser treatment to shape her eyebrows. Why is treatment within the bony orbit avoided?

   1. AEyebrow hair contains no melanin at all
   2. BThe skin there is too thick to treat
   3. CEyebrow hairs are always in telogen phase
   4. DRisk of serious eye injury, including the iris
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Risk of serious eye injury, including the iris

   Treatment inside the orbital rim risks serious ocular injury because the pigmented iris and retina absorb the laser light, even with closed lids. Eyebrow hair contains melanin and would respond, which is why the restriction is about safety.

8. Question 8Treatment Technique and Parameterseasy

   Which aftercare advice is most important after laser hair reduction?

   1. AUse a sunbed to even out skin tone
   2. BAvoid sun exposure and use broad-spectrum sunscreen
   3. CExfoliate the area vigorously the next day
   4. DApply hot compresses for 2 days
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Avoid sun exposure and use broad-spectrum sunscreen

   Treated skin is vulnerable to pigment change, so clients should avoid sun and tanning and use broad-spectrum sunscreen. Hot compresses, sunbeds and vigorous exfoliation all increase irritation and the risk of hyperpigmentation.

9. Question 9Laser Safety and Regulationmedium

   Under IEC 60825-1, which class are hair reduction lasers typically assigned?

   1. AClass 1
   2. BClass 2
   3. CClass 3R
   4. DClass 4
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Class 4

   Hair reduction lasers are Class 4 devices, meaning direct, reflected and sometimes diffuse beams can harm the eyes and skin and can create a fire hazard. Class 1 and 2 devices are safe under normal use.

10. Question 10Skin and Hair Biologymedium

    To achieve long-term hair reduction, which follicular structures must be damaged?

    1. AThe sebaceous gland and arrector pili
    2. BThe bulge stem cells and hair bulb
    3. CThe epidermis and dermal papilla only
    4. DThe sweat glands near the follicle
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. The bulge stem cells and hair bulb

    Long-term reduction requires heat damage to the follicular stem cells in the bulge and the hair bulb with its dermal papilla, which regenerate the hair. Damage to the sebaceous gland or epidermis does not prevent regrowth.

11. Question 11Skin and Hair Biologymedium

    Why is epidermal cooling especially important when treating darker skin?

    1. AEpidermal melanin competes for the light
    2. BDarker skin contains less hair melanin
    3. CDarker skin conducts heat away faster
    4. DCooling raises the fluence delivered
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Epidermal melanin competes for the light

    In darker skin, epidermal melanin absorbs a significant share of the light and can overheat, causing burns and pigment change; cooling protects the epidermis while the follicle is heated. Cooling does not increase the delivered fluence.

12. Question 12Skin and Hair Biologymedium

    Why does laser hair reduction require a series of treatments rather than a single session?

    1. AHair follicles are at different growth phases at any time
    2. BThe skin must adapt to laser light gradually
    3. CEach session only treats the epidermis
    4. DHair regrows faster after the first session
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Hair follicles are at different growth phases at any time

    Follicles cycle asynchronously, and only those in anagen respond well at any given session, so repeated treatments are spaced to catch follicles entering anagen. The skin does not need to adapt, and hair does not grow faster after treatment.

13. Question 13Treatment Technique and Parametersmedium

    Why should clients avoid waxing, plucking or threading for several weeks before laser hair reduction?

    1. AThey tan and darken the skin
    2. BThey thicken the outer skin layers
    3. CThey raise the fluence that is required
    4. DThey remove the pigmented target hair
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. They remove the pigmented target hair

    Waxing, plucking and threading remove the hair shaft and bulb, so there is no pigmented target in the follicle for the laser to heat. Shaving is allowed because the hair below the surface remains.

14. Question 14Treatment Technique and Parametersmedium

    Which immediate skin response indicates an appropriate treatment endpoint during laser hair reduction?

    1. AGrey-white discoloration of the skin
    2. BImmediate blistering
    3. CPerifollicular erythema and oedema
    4. DNo visible change at all
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Perifollicular erythema and oedema

    Perifollicular erythema and oedema appearing within minutes indicate effective follicular heating. Grey-white discoloration or blistering signals epidermal injury and requires stopping and reducing settings.

15. Question 15Treatment Technique and Parametersmedium

    What treatment interval is typically used between laser hair reduction sessions on the body?

    1. AEvery 3-4 days
    2. BEvery 1-2 weeks
    3. CEvery 6 months
    4. DEvery 6-8 weeks
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. Every 6-8 weeks

    Body areas are typically treated every 6-8 weeks, with facial areas often every 4-6 weeks, to match the hair cycle and catch new anagen follicles. Very short intervals treat few new anagen follicles and increase skin irritation.

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.