Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/70065
2. MRSA CAN KILL The infection (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics. While most MRSA infections occur in people who have been hospitalized, some occur in healthy people. This latter kind often begins as a painful skin boil, and it spreads on contact. "It's really time for us to pay a lot more attention to drug-resistant forms of staph," warns Ruth Werner, author of A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008). PSORIASIS OR ECZEMA "They may look aggressive and intimidating, but they're not contagious," says Natalie Pergar, international trainer coordinator for Eminence Organic Skin Care in Vancouver, British Columbia. "So massage away. You won't catch it. In no way do [these conditions] put massage therapists in a position where they have to stop the treatment." In fact, since eczema and 3. psoriasis are often stress-related, a massage could be an excellent treatment option for someone suffering from either condition. DON'T WORRY ABOUT 4. VITILIGO DOES NOT PRECLUDE MASSAGE Now widely associated with the late pop star Michael Jackson, vitiligo is a skin condition where there's a loss of pigment from areas of the skin, resulting in irregular white patches. It's not contagious and there's no reason to avoid massaging the de-pigmented patches. "One of my clients went to a spa in Arizona with some friends, and they all went in for a massage," says Morag Currin, president of Touch for Cancer Online, which provides training in skin care for oncology patients. "But she had developed vitiligo, and the massage therapist had never seen that before. He didn't know what it was and refused to give her a massage. She was humiliated." THAT ARE CONTRAINDICATED "Unfortunately, there are many," says Dr. Marc Ronert, plastic surgeon, medical director, and director of product development for Image Skin Care of West Palm Beach, Florida. "To name a few more common: open lesions, warts, dermatitis, pemphigus vulgaris where massage clients develop bulbous bubbles from touch, as well as lipomatosis (which means benign fat tumors below the skin surface). They should not be massaged before a tumor is excluded from the diagnosis." Be wary of massaging any area of 5. cracked or fragile skin, particularly if your client is undergoing chemotherapy or has any sort of compromised KNOW THE SKIN CONDITIONS immune system. "If there are any open wounds, any creams or oils you apply could get into the body, so you have to be very careful with what products you're using," Currin warns. THAT REQUIRE A GENTLE TOUCH People receiving chemotherapy sometimes develop a condition commonly known as hand-foot syndrome (HFS), which causes redness, dry skin, and extreme pain. "Heat and friction must absolutely be avoided," Currin says, "yet their skin is so dry it needs some moisturizing." In such cases—or with elderly clients whose skin has become paper-thin and tears easily—don't rub, just pat as gently as possible. "Sometimes, you can't even 6. touch the area," Currin says. If that's the case, energy treatments such as reiki, that rely less on touching the body, could be helpful, she says. 7. DON'T FORGET THE CUTICLES Nail cuticles can become cracked and dry for the same reasons other parts of the skin become cracked and dry. It can be a reaction to stress, or a side effect of chemotherapy or of some medications. Whatever the cause, it can be painful. "Every massage therapist should be massaging those cuticles," Currin says. "Find a nice nail balm and always massage the whole cuticle area, because if they [clients] start ripping and scratching, it can lead to infection." BE AWARE OF SKIN CONDITIONS connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 79