Let’s Talk About Skin

Most people don’t think too much about skin when they think about massage. Usually they’re thinking about a sore muscle or how stressed out they are and are looking forward to just laying down on the table for a while to relax and feel better. But skin is one of the really important things we learn about in massage school. We learn to look at it, evaluate it, and determine whether it’s safe for us to touch, if it’s safe for you to receive massage, and whether you need to see a doctor.

It’s getting warm here, the kids are out of school, and everyone is heading outdoors. That means we’re breaking out the shorts, tank tops, flip flops, and bathing suits and our skin is experiencing more of the environment than it has since last summer. And that is showing up in massage practices near you as sunburns, rashes, bumps, and bruises. So, I thought I’d take a minute and talk about a few skin issues we see and when it’s time to reschedule a massage before your therapist is walking you back out the door without receiving your much-anticipated massage.

Sunburn

Yikes! Even when you’re being careful, sunburns can happen. If you find yourself with a sunburn and a massage scheduled very soon, let your massage therapist know. You certainly don’t want to be trying to receive a massage if the burn is still sore. That wouldn’t be relaxing or any fun at all. If you’re to the peeling stage, that’s okay, just exfoliate and moisturize before your massage. Most massage therapists deal with peeling skin throughout the sunny, summer months. We appreciate when you try to minimize the peeling during your appointment.

Here’s an article I wrote a while back about Sun Safety. Check it out for tips and tricks on protecting yourself from the sun during this summer vacation. And if you’re looking to find safer, less toxic, more environmentally friendly sunscreens the AWG website is an excellent resource.

Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac Rash

Eeek! I am truly sorry if you suffer from rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. My very first case of poison ivy lasted about 6 weeks and covered a large portion of my body. I didn’t know what it was and didn’t know how to take care of myself. It was a big, miserable surprise and quite the learning experience. Most people won’t seek out massage in the early, blistered stages of a poison plant rash if it covers a large portion of the body.

Your massage therapist will surely send you home if you show up with a large, weeping rash. If your rash is localized and can be covered or easily avoided, then your therapist can choose to work depending on your individual circumstances. Please make sure you have completely cleansed your skin of any poison plant oils if you choose to seek massage while dealing with a poison plant rash. Please do not show up to your massage appointment directly from yard work without having showered. Your massage therapist can and will pick up and spread the urushiol oils everywhere they work and they can also contract a rash if you have these oils on your skin while the massage is in progress.

Stings & Bites

Ugh! No matter how careful you are outside (and sometimes inside), encounters with wildlife are inevitable. Hopefully it was nothing too serious. If your regularly scheduled massage appointment coincides with a bite or a sting, the important things to consider are whether the reaction to the sting or bite is localized and whether you’ve ever had a life-threatening reaction to a bite or sting. Sometimes if the reaction is localized and swelling is minimal, your therapist may feel comfortable working with you. If you’ve ever had an anaphylactic reaction to a wildlife encounter, please wait 72 hours after the injury or receiving emergency treatment before receiving massage. Bites from a larger animal may require antibiotics, please call your massage therapist if you’ve been prescribed antibiotics and the injury occurred within three days of your scheduled appointment.

Mystery Rash

Rashes can be caused by lots of things. Allergic reactions to environmental factors are common. Grass, plants, trees, wildlife, metal tools, lotion, sunscreen, something you ate, a fuzzy caterpillar, just about anything can cause a skin reaction if you’re sensitive to it. Mystery rashes with respect to massage get treated just like a poison ivy rash. If you can cover it, it’s probably okay to receive a massage. It’s up to your massage therapist and their discernment as to whether massage therapy is safe for you at the time.

Skin Cancers

Ah, skin cancer… this is a whole other article I need to write. Did you know massage therapists are taught to screen for skin cancer? It’s true! And while we can’t diagnose it, we can suggest you see a dermatologist for “this spot right here that I don’t like the looks of.” As far as it affecting your massage today, it won’t, but if you go have a biopsy you’ll need to coordinate scheduling your next massage around your dermatology visit. Please do not schedule a biopsy procedure and a massage on the same day without talking to your massage therapist ahead of time.

Bumps & Bruises

No problem as long as it’s a garden variety bump or bruise. Your therapist will avoid the area as to not cause any further pain or damage to the tissue as it goes about it’s healing process. If your massage therapist has training, experience, and confidence they may do a bit of lymphatic drainage to help expedite the healing process of the bruises. If your bruise is caused by a major accident, please make sure that you have seen a medical professional and you’re not in any danger of blood clotting. Clotting and massage therapy can be a dangerous combination.

Cuts & Scrapes

Cuts and scrapes abound when we’re outside playing or doing yard work. Just clean them up and cover them with a bandage before your massage. If you’ve visited the local emergency room and have stitches, please let your therapist know ahead of time, especially if they prescribed anti-biotics. We have guidelines regarding infection, anti-biotics, and the safety of massage therapy.

Tattoos

If you recently received some new ink, please plan to cover it during your massage. We need to treat this like a wound until it is fully healed. If it’s a large piece of artwork, consider talking with your massage therapist to see if it would be better to reschedule.

I hope this gives you a little more insight into skin and how your skin can affect your massage therapy experience. Stay well out there and enjoy your summer vacation!