Our fun left me injured

Q My partner experimented with dripping hot candle wax on to my skin, but it left burns – should it do that? Tracey, Eynsham A Some couples use hot wax as part of BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism) sex play. The idea is to cause a sting but not serious hurt, and certainly not to burn. It’s important to use soft candles as they have a lower melting point, meaning the molten wax is cooler than from a household candle. And the higher your partner holds the dripping candle, the cooler the wax will be on your skin.

If you do burn, apply cold water immediately. Chances are it’s a first-degree burn affecting just your surface skin layer, although second-degree burns affecting the deeper layer are possible if the wax is too hot. Both should heal with time, without scarring.