When going for a massage, most people try to be in top condition: freshly washed and freshly shaved (even man-backs get waxed sometimes before visiting me which is sweet); and it makes sense, though really not essential from the therapist’s point of view.
However, some things cannot be easily hidden. Certain skin conditions – most common being psoriasis and eczema – are not only uncomfortable but also unsightly and can make the sufferer very conscious of their appearance. They usually present dry flaky skin with red blotches to varying degree. I remember the first time a client, upon arriving and getting ready told me in a tone that sounded almost ashamed, that he has psoriasis and he hopes I don’t mind. That tone spoke volumes and I hoped that it came from just discomfort and not a previous bad experience.
My son, who is now a mini adult, has suffered from severe eczema much of his life. I have spent over well over 10 years creaming him top to toe twice a day, sometimes with him crying in pain. I understand how bad it can be and I am well used to the feel of crusty skin and whatever else goes with it – I am more than comfortable handling bad skin.
So how should you go about it when you have an irritated skin and need a massage?
First of all, feel free to tell me. I’m a big sop for skin conditions as they remind me of my wee son, so I will likely go out of my way to help make it a nice experience for you.
You know what works for you so if you need me to use your cream, I will – saying that, the sports massage cream I use in my practice is fairly pure and on that first occasion I mentioned earlier, the client’s psoriasis started visibly healing during the time he has been visiting me for regular massages.
If your skin is ok to touch then all is well, we can get on with the massage. To be honest, receiving a deep full body creaming is probably not a bad idea in itself. However, at times of flare ups it may be too sensitive to glide over. If that is the case and you feel that you need a massage regardless, I can work through the clothes on the muscles. This type of massage foregoes the gliding movements and concentrates on just muscle work.
My son’s present flare up was fairly traumatic for him, he did not let me touch him or even look at him until the skin improved from beyond unbearable to just plain awful. This flare up was also accompanied by regular full body shaking as if he was cold, which took its toll on his muscles. Now, after a course of antibiotics and other measures it is at a bearable state, and so he asked for a massage (strictly through the clothes) to help the muscles. It worked out just fine, and he feels just that much better for it.
So the bottom line is: don’t feel like you cannot get massaged just because you pulled the short straw when it came to skin. As long as it is a non-contagious condition, adjusted massage can be done easily. It will likely bother you more than me.