Holistically Caring for Menopausal Clients in the Treatment Room

Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life, bringing about profound physical, emotional and hormonal changes. These changes not only impact overall health and well-being but also affect the skin, hair and body in ways that are often visible and deeply felt. As spa professionals, understanding and addressing the unique needs of menopausal clients is crucial. A holistic approach—considering the whole person and not just isolated symptoms—can provide more customized and comprehensive care.

Create an Optimal Environment

Certain modifications to our treatment room and environment can be considered to truly accommodate the changing needs of menopausal clients for their best experience.

First, turn down the heat. While many clients love the welcoming warmth of a pre-heated treatment bed, for others it could be the external environmental change that triggers a very unwelcomed hot flash.

Hot flashes are widely accepted as the cardinal and most troublesome symptom of menopause and are experienced to some degree by most women as their reproductive years end.¹ Also known as vasomotor symptoms (VMS), hot flashes are a form of temperature dysfunction that occurs due to changes in gonadal hormones.

Once you “know” your client, use a couple of lightweight blankets on the bed rather than your eider-filled duvet, so they can easily be peeled away if necessary to allow for temperature changes. An oscillating fan that intermittently wafts cools air over the guest is also a welcome relief during a hot sweat; this recurring symptom is typically experienced for five years following menopause, with some ladies’ experiences lasting for 10 years or more.

Foster Deep Relaxation

Disturbed sleep patterns and insomnia are also common symptoms of menopause. Lack of sleep can directly impact the health and quality of the skin.

The parasympathetic nervous system, a branch of the autonomic nervous system, is known for its rest and digest functions in the body and is a time when the skin and other body organs regenerate. Including deeply relaxing elements, such as specialized massage techniques, can give your client the opportunity to attain the parasympathetic response during treatments.

Lymphatic drainage massage is a wonderful modality that fits the criteria of treating more sensitive and fragile skin. With the featherlight skin-stretching technique, where tissue fluid is gently directed back to the lymph vessels to be returned to the blood, there is no stimulation of the blood itself. In fact, the technique is so light and gentle that it can reduce redness in the skin. As rosacea is also more prevalent in menopausal women, this technique must be a forerunner in holistic facials for this age range.

Related: 6 Trends in Menopausal Care That Prioritize Women's Wellness

Consider Depression and Irritability

Psychosocial factors play a role in clients’ mental and emotional health. For clients going through menopause, changes such as weight gain, hair loss and thinning, and facial hair growth can lead to poor body image and feelings of low self-worth. Plus, changes in sexual function such as vaginal dryness, lack of libido and the feeling of being “less of a woman” add strain to intimate relationships.

The loss of estrogen at menopause also lowers the activity of serotonin.² This chemical acts as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone, best known for regulating mood. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression.

Pleasant, skilled touch is detected by various touch receptors housed in the skin and evokes mechanical changes, which are then converted into electrical signals triggering the release of feel-good hormones: serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and beta-endorphins. These brain chemicals have multiple positive effects both physically and emotionally. Great massage has proven to increase the sense of well-being, contentment and increase positive feelings.

Turn to Nature

When essential oils are carefully selected and skillfully blended, they provide delightful aromas and sensory gratification. They can offer highly therapeutic benefits and can create positive changes and responses in both physical and emotional aspects of the body.

The floral category of essential oils is extracted from petals and flowers that possess a soft and powdery aroma, and closely resemble the plants from which they come. They have a strong association with comfort and reassurance, making them a perfect choice when used as a massage medium for menopausal clients.

Rose, also known as the queen of essential oils, is one of the most expensive essential oils available. Its properties can assist with mental and emotional concerns like anxiety, irritability, insomnia, tension and depression.

Rose is also beneficial for dry skin, wrinkles and rosacea, thanks to its tonic and astringent effect on capillaries, making their appearance less obvious. The regenerative properties of this oil may also help with hyperpigmentation. Topical application of rose essential oil diluted into a carrier oil and massaged into the skin is the best option of delivery, rather than inhalation, given its high cost and multiple skin benefits.

Meanwhile, geranium essential oil is adaptogenic, with the ability to adjust to the body’s needs and offering a balancing effect on the mind, emotions and spirit.³

Rosemary, cedarwood, helichrysum and lavender are also recognized for their regenerative skin properties and calming effects on the mind, making them ideal choices for use with menopausal clients.

Keep in mind that essential oils are potential irritants to the skin, and menopausal skin may become more easily irritated.⁴ If you are blending your own oils, it is vital that you have thorough knowledge of how to do so safely to avoid sensitivity reactions.

Balance Energies

Another excellent touch technique to employ when treating menopausal clients is facial acupressure. This practice stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine and uses fingertips to encourage the smooth flow of energy throughout the body, helping to restore balance and harmony.

It is an extremely useful modality for estheticians, considered as an energetic treatment rather than a mechanical one like traditional massage. We have 12 major meridians, pathways through which the body’s energy travels, that correspond to the major organs of the body; eight of them are easily accessible from the head, neck and face.

By rhythmically pressing on specific acupoints, we can re-energize the skin while simultaneously delivering a deeply relaxing effect on the entire body. While no massage medium is necessary for acupressure, using a deeply nourishing and emollient face mask can address the skin dryness that occurs during menopause, when less sebum is being produced and the skin’s inability to hold moisture decreases.

Embracing a holistic perspective not only helps manage some of menopause’s physical symptoms, but also supports the emotional and psychological aspects, fostering a sense of confidence and vitality in clients during this transformative phase of life.

References:

1. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4574289/
2. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1327664/#:~:text=The%20loss%20of%20estrogen%20at,hot%20flashes%20and%20night%20sweats.
3. Aromatherapy by Jimm Harrison ISBN-13: 978-1-4018-9895-3
4. www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/skin-care-during-menopause

Gaynor Farmer-Katics is passionate about teaching estheticians how to refine their touch by increasing their repertoire of massage techniques. She has almost 40 years of experience as an esthetician, massage therapist and educator, and her business Enhanced Touch (www.enhanced-touch.com) offers online and in-person training.