Client with Psoriasis (sp?)

[Rivone]

I have a client that has come to me every week since opening (I've been open 3 weeks hehe) he is loving all the treatments he has but has this problem of Psoriasis in some areas of his body.

He really would like a back massage next week but he does have a patch of psoriasis on his back and although I know its not a contagious skin disorder I was wondering if I should do a massage over it.

I don't mind doing a massage on him as I know its not contagious and he's a little enbarrassed about it but doesn't mind having a massage but I just wanted to check the ethics on this type of situation.

He is almost sure its stress related as no one in his family has it (or to his knowledge anyway) and it comes and goes. He is thinking that if he had massages it may relieve some tension and help with the stress - any comments will be greatfully received.

 

[Sorella]

i personally wouldn't do the massage on him but i suppose it all depends on yourself. as it isn't spreadable i dont think why you shouldn't if you want to do it. what other treatments has he had?

 

[tog]

I would go ahead and do the massage, I have carried out massage on clients with psoriasis and had no problems. The only reason I can think of not to do it is if the client has had a particularly bad flare-up and been scratching the area and made it bleed, so the skin would be open.

You could as a precaution just use a plain carrier oil such as sweet almond or grapeseed, ie with no perfume, in case you are worried that his skin may be sensitive.

I definitely agree with you about the stress thing too - a massage could do him the world of good and help his psoriasis. He is lucky to have found such a professional and sympathetic therapist in you.

 

[Martin Duffy]

I have had patches of psoriasis & eczema, and have never found massage to aggrevate it. If anything, I found regularly massaging oils into the psoriasis actually helped. I eventually ridded myself of it by blending an aromatherapy cream.

 

[tog]

I have had patches of psoriasis & eczema, and have never found massage to aggrevate it. If anything, I found regularly massaging oils into the psoriasis actually helped. I eventually ridded myself of it by blending an aromatherapy cream.

Wow Martin - if you don't mind me asking, which oils did you use?
I would imagine lavender or camomile might help?

 

[Rivone]

I have had patches of psoriasis & eczema, and have never found massage to aggrevate it. If anything, I found regularly massaging oils into the psoriasis actually helped. I eventually ridded myself of it by blending an aromatherapy cream.

I actually thought about having an aromatherapy oil mixed up for him but I'd have to get a friend to do it who is qualified in mixing oils - I've done aroma through NVQ3 Beauty but it was with pre-blended oils and not to mix them - so good idea.

I was going to use just a plain almond oil this time round as he has no allergies known yet and then I said I'd experiement with some pre-blended oils for him.

Thanks for the comments - its put my mind at ease that I won't be doing any more damage

 

[Lynne Baker]

Propolis ointment is very good for psoriasis, as is taking aloe vera products. See if you can find your local "Forever" lady. I don't take this, but I have several clients who do and who tell me that their psoriasis (and a myriad other ailments) are much improved when they take this stuff!
Natural Aloe Vera Products from Forever Living

 

[Martin Duffy]

Wow Martin - if you don't mind me asking, which oils did you use?
I would imagine lavender or camomile might help?

I was very lucky it worked as it's notoriously difficult to treat psoriasis, but it was so sore & itchy, plus embarassing as it was on my shins, that I was determined to give it a go. I had researched aromatherapy & psoriasis before mixing the cream up and found the most useful book to be Aromadermatology (Aromatherapy in the treatment & care of common skin conditions) by Janetta Bensouilah & Phillipa Buck.

I chose a cream for the base with the addition of borage & evening primrose oil, but the essential oils I used were German Chamomile (not roman), lavender, frankincense & bergamot. I applied it several times a day, especially after any bathing/washing, and although the temptation is to blend to a high concentration because you are only applying it to a small area topically, because of the skin changes in psoriasis skin permeability is increased, so I made a 5% blend. It took about a month or so before the plaques disappeared entirely, but the itchiness & redness subsided within a week or so.

 

[Martin Duffy]

Propolis ointment is very good for psoriasis, as is taking aloe vera products. See if you can find your local "Forever" lady. I don't take this, but I have several clients who do and who tell me that their psoriasis (and a myriad other ailments) are much improved when they take this stuff!
Natural Aloe Vera Products from Forever Living

Further to this, a 0.5% aloe vera cream was found to resolve psoriasis plaques in 83.3% of sufferers in a double-blind placebo-controlled study, compared with 6.6% placebo cure rate. There were also no recorded adverse effects & demonstrable positive changes to the skin when examined. Thus, it's well worth considering in anything made to treat psoriasis.

Propolis can also be bought through Spiezia.

 

[Lynne Baker]

Indeed it can, and it's a lovely ointment too. Once the psoriasis is less severe you can move the client onto Calendula ointment (also from Spiezia).

 

[Urban Geek]

Propolis ointment is very good for psoriasis, as is taking aloe vera products. See if you can find your local "Forever" lady. I don't take this, but I have several clients who do and who tell me that their psoriasis (and a myriad other ailments) are much improved when they take this stuff!
Natural Aloe Vera Products from Forever Living

I purchased this cream for my niece who suffers from psoriasis and she loves it and finds it very soothing.