Which signs during a manicure indicate you should stop service and refer to a physician?

• A. Redness of the nail fold
• B. Swelling or pus
• C. Bleeding around the cuticle
• D. Excessive nail growth

Answer: (A)

Redness around the nail fold signals inflammation near the nail bed, which is a common red flag for infection such as paronychia. In a manicure setting, this indicates that the area is not safe to treat and could worsen if you continue, so you should pause the service and refer the client to a physician for evaluation and appropriate treatment. This early inflammatory sign is a clear warning that medical attention may be needed to prevent complications.

Other signs can also require attention: swelling or pus clearly points to an infection and would also warrant stopping and seeking medical care; bleeding around the cuticle reflects trauma and should be addressed carefully, stopping the service if it’s significant; excessive nail growth isn’t an infection or acute injury signal and doesn’t by itself require medical referral during a manicure.