As skin care professionals, it’s crucial for us to be well-versed in caring for our clients and their skin throughout every stage of their lives, whether they’re in good health or facing health challenges. In the contemporary era, numerous individuals contend with various health conditions that have an impact on both their overall well-being and their skin’s health.
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As skin care professionals, it’s crucial for us to be well-versed in caring for our clients and their skin throughout every stage of their lives, whether they’re in good health or facing health challenges. In the contemporary era, numerous individuals contend with various health conditions that have an impact on both their overall well-being and their skin’s health.
The State Of Skin Health
The CDC reports that six in 10 adults have a chronic disease and four in 10 adults have two or more diseases.1
The top seven illness in the US are:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Chronic lung disease
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic Kidney disease
Unwell Clients
Most likely, you encounter such individuals at your spas. Are you prepared? The initial requirement is obtaining a consent form. Surprisingly, I still come across numerous spas that overlook this step, and frankly, it leaves me puzzled. How can we effectively chart or design a secure treatment strategy for every client if we lack insight into their identities and the challenges they’re facing?
What we need to know:
- Health issues related to skin changes – what are they dealing with?
- Medications – what the side effects are, what to avoid and contraindications.
- Allergies – what we should avoid in the treatment or service.
- Recent surgeries - what areas do we need to avoid and how can we make them comfortable?
- Lymph node removal or radiation – how and where we can massage?
- What are they looking for and how can we help them today?
- Being armed with this information will enable us to move forward safely, providing tailor-made services for each individual client.
Skin Changes
During my time at the cancer center, I came to understand that when individuals face health challenges, their skin inevitably undergoes transformations. These individuals required assistance and guidance to adapt their regular skin care routines. I was truly amazed by how these changes were received by the clients. It was as if they had been given a completely “fresh canvas” of skin, but had no idea how to properly nurture it. Among the most frequent requests from both women and men embarking on their new health journey was, “How should I now care for my skin?” This was especially pertinent since their skin was exhibiting behaviors it had never displayed before.
Even those who previously had normal or oily skin found themselves dealing with dryness, while individuals who were accustomed to dry skin were suddenly grappling with rashes and breakouts. Strikingly, the products they had relied upon for years no longer yielded the same results. This called for a process of re-education, guiding them in the art of caring for their “new” skin.
Related: Gentle Spa Treatments for Guests With Chronic Illness, Cancer and More
Causes
Stress and medications are the main reasons for skin changes during illness. Stress is a prevalent reaction when someone receives a new diagnosis or navigates through an illness, and we are well aware of the profound impact that stress can have on the skin.
- It can aggravate a current skin condition like eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea;
- Can cause dryness;
- Increase aging and wrinkles;
- Cause acne or breakouts;
- Medications can also be a significant factor contributing to skin reactions or alterations. In situations of illness, it’s quite common for individuals to be prescribed one or more medications either to address the primary condition or to manage its associated side effects.
Healthline and Single Care did individual studies showing that 66-70% of U.S adults reported taking one or more prescription drug.1,2 During this period, our primary objective for body care will be centered around hydrating, calming and soothing the skin. Our aim is to mitigate the emerging skin conditions, thus ensuring that clients experience a sense of comfort and relief.
Spa Service Considerations
Some things to consider when offering spa services include:
- Water temperature. When the skin is compromised and excessively dry, it’s essential to modify the water temperature to warm rather than hot. Hot water tends to exacerbate skin dryness and can also lead to increased inflammation (and, no steam).
- Ingredients. We should be deliberate in our ingredient selection, opting for those that possess calming qualities rather than being overly active during this period. Specifically, for this particular client at this juncture, our focus should be on ingredients with humectant, anti-inflammatory and emollient or occlusive properties.
Most Prescribed Medications
The most prescribed medications in 2022 along with common skin reactions are:
- Vitamine D: if allergic can cause itching, swelling in face and hands.
- Amoxicillin: commonly causes diarrhea which causes dehydration in the skin. Mild to blistering, peeling or red skin rash, itching or hives.
- Levothyroxine: commonly causes diarrhea which causes dehydration in the skin. And, if allergic can cause itching, hives or swelling in the face and hands.
- Lisinopril: Mild to blistering, peeling or red skin rash, itching or hives. And, if allergic can cause itching, hives or swelling in the face and hands.
- Ibuprofen: commonly causes diarrhea which causes dehydration in the skin. And, if allergic can cause itching, hives or swelling in the face and hands.
- Amphetamine: commonly causes diarrhea which causes dehydration in the skin. And, if allergic can cause itching, hives or swelling in the face and hands, unexplained wounds on the fingers or toes.
- Amlodipine: swelling, if allergic can cause itching, hives or swelling in the face and hands.
- Albuterol - if allergic can cause itching, hives or swelling in the face and hands
- Prednisone: skin changes or growths, swelling, skin color changes, round puffy face
- Gabapentin: blistering, peeling or red skin rash, swelling in face and hands
- Chemotherapy: dry, fragile, thin, red skin, rashes
- Radiation Therapy: blistering, red rash or peeling, dry or wet desquamation, dermatitis
Examples of humectants:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Glycerin
- Polyglutamic acid
- Urea
- Bisabolol
- Aloe vera
- Panthenol
Examples of anti-inflammatory:
- Vitamin E
- Hemp seed oil
- Frankincense oil
- Lemongrass oil
- Rose hip seed oil
- Vanilla oil
- Tamanu oil
- Chamomile
- Turmeric
- Colloidal oatmeal
Examples of emollients/occlusives:
- Shea butter
- Jojoba oil
- Oat kernel oil
- Squalene
- Hemp seed oil
- Cetearyl Olivate
- Argan oil
Body Care Routine
Simplicity is key for clients who are unwell. Considering their limited time, financial resources, and energy, we should provide a straightforward skin care routine. This could entail the following approach (customized, of course, to address each client’s specific requirements):
- Cleanse twice a day using lukewarm water and a mild cleanser that effectively cleanses without compromising the skin’s natural protective barrier. Opt for products that are unscented or have a subtle scent.
- Hydrate the skin twice a day (or more if necessary) with a product that contains abundant humectants, effectively replenishing moisture.
- Conclude the routine by applying a zinc-based SPF to safeguard the skin against additional damage caused by sun exposure
Body Protocol Example
One body treatment that my clients particularly appreciate is the enhanced body wrap service.
- Turn the bed warmer on low or at body temperature.
- Have client undress to level of comfort and put on spa wrap.
- Have them lay face down to start on a flat cotton sheet.
- Commence the procedure by using a dry body brush, starting from the feet and progressing upwards, always moving in the direction of the heart.
- When done with the back, arms, legs and feet, use warm towels to gently wet the skin.
- Apply warmed cleanser to your hands and gently wash the skin.
- Remove with another warm towel.
- Apply hydration – warmed oil or cream of choice.
- Massage according to scope of license and the clients needs.
- Have client roll over and repeat the process.
- Wrap them the cotton sheet and let sit for 20-30 additional minutes.
- When done, apply SPF if the client will experience any sun exposure
You can do an express facial, and/or a scalp service during this time. Upon completing the service, your client will experience skin that’s both hydrated and comfortable, maintaining these qualities for hours. Additionally, your efforts will leave them feeling at ease, content and eager to rebook with you.
Becky Kuehn is a Master Esthetician and Cosmetologist who specializes in the realm of Oncology Esthetics. Since 2013, she has been the driving force behind Oncology Spa Solutions, dedicating herself to educating others on the safe practices of working with individuals undergoing cancer and various health-related difficulties. Her passion drives her mission to impart knowledge and expertise in this field.
