Oncology and Aesthetics: How they work together.
I made a previous post bragging about a webinar I happened to get the opportunity to listen to. The featured speaker was Doctor Kevin L. Schewe, a Radiation Oncologist from Colorado.
He had many wonderful things to talk about, such as the science behind radiation, and even the amazing progression of radiation treatments over the last 40 years. I learned quite a bit from his 60 minute talk. I think the best part was that there really wasn’t a lull in information. I am assuming that other listeners were probably not eating it up like I was, but then again, they probably know more about adapting aesthetics for oncology patients than myself.
Well, I took a few days to pretty much process what I had learned, and now I want to share them with you (Partly because my family and friends have no idea what I am talking about and use tune me out)
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, as we know, there are choices in treatment. Two such choices are: Radiation, or Chemo Therapy.
Radiation is a localized treatment that is targeted to a specific area where the cancerous cells are located.
Chemo Therapy is administered, usually, intravenously and affects the entire body.
Both treatments, however, affect the healthy tissues negatively. Side effects include:
- Irritation of healthy tissue. (such as redness, and swelling, sometimes rashes)
- minor burning of superficial skin (radiation)
- nerve damage
- loss or slowing of hair growth (chemo)
- nail and skin damage
Because Dr. Schewe is a Radiation specialist, he talked mostly of Radiation treatments.
If any of my Aesthi followers out there are also licensed laser techs you may understand this next part. The rest of you.. I will try my best to make it simple. Lasers are a complicated subject.
So, radiation consist of the delivery of high energy laser beams to the cancerous area to destroy the cancer cells. Unfortunately, despite the vast progression of lasers over the last several years we can control the beam, but not the resulting radiation, and therefore it will also attack the healthy cells as well. It is because of this that Radiation is usually administered in spurts. With enough down time for the patient’s body to repair the healthy tissues. A method called, fractionating.
However, radiation is a very powerful thing, to the point where it destroys DNA. After a while the patient’s body will not be able to repair everything that was damaged. This is when the redness, irritation, and skin burns result.
Que Aesthetics Treatment involvement!!!!
When trying to treat Oncology skin, it is really precise. Your must only use distilled water, all of your implements must be disposable, and you cannot use anything that is too abrasive. In all of your aesthetics career, it will be the most frufru facial that you ever give. Yes, more so than the ones at a resort spa.
The purpose of treating oncology skin is to help speed up the skins repair time during and even after treatments have been completed. This is where the miracle supplement, Vitamin E, comes into play.
Vitamin E, in its purest form, serves as an all in one tool. It is like the Swiss Army Knife of skin rejuvenation.
Benefits:
- Most potent antioxidant. Seeks out, neutralizes, and prevents harmful free radicals that cause cancer; including the incredibly toxic Hydroxy Radicals.
- Acts as a highly effective sunscreen and absorbs cancer causing UVB (burning) rays.
- Protects and promotes immune defenses of the skin.
- Literally prevents cancer. (does not cure)
These are the benefits of pure Vitamin E. Not “Tocopheryl Acetate.” Tocopheryl Acetate has a cap on it that will not allow it to protect you from cancer. Pure Vitamin E is made of 8 Isomers:
- 4 Tocoperyls
- 4Tocotrienols
It is these 8 isomers that allow for Vitamin E to be so wonderful. I really wish I could post some the success pictures that he has from the product that he made. They are really awe inspiring.
Alternatively, I encourage you to go to Dr. Schewe’s website and read some of the information he has to offer.
Also, I mentioned how I may not have to spend a wealth of money on an Oncology Aesthetics certification because there is an organization in Colorado that teaches skin care professionals how to adjust their treatments for oncology patients. It is called Spa 4 The Pink. They hold classes, and give your eh chance to volunteer. So if you are in the area, would like to expand your skill set, I encourage you to participate in one of these. When you are done, you can tell me all about it, and I will decide if it is wort it for me to go to Colorado and learn this myself. (Still working on convincing the Hubbs on it. :/ )
So that is what I have learned, and that is what I was so excited to share with all of you!
Providing skin care treatments to oncology patients is one of my greatest passions. It serves as both a health booster, and a confidence booster. During my time as an aesthetician I often run into women who are self conscious, and stressed about their skin. I find this much more evident in oncology patients, and I have devoted much of my time to Look Good Feel better, where I have the chance to show women that just because they been thrust in to some grim circumstances doesn’t mean that they can no longer feel or be beautiful. They, of course, are beautiful regardless, but when they have a nice pamper session, and they see the results of miracle products like Vitamin E, they begin to feel beautiful again. Looking good, is usually that boost that helps you feel and be better. I encourage all of you to find a way to donate you time to someone, or a group of someones who need this kind of boost.
Please note that just because you read this post, you are not, I repeat, NOT qualified to perform a facial on an oncology patient. It is a skill you need to actually go to a class and learn and be deemed certified before you perform any time of treatment on a patient. It is a whole different type of massage, and a much more elevated level of sanitation. THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY AS YOUR CLASS AND I DO NTO DEEM ANY OF YOU QUALIFIED TO PERFORM ONCOLOGY FACIALS. If you do perform an oncology facial, I am not to be held responsible for any problems that may occur, or the resulting consequences.
As always, thank you very much for taking the time to read this, and I hope you have learned something new as well! I am always open to questions, and you are always encouraged to ask!
Have a great day, and don’t forget your sunscreen!
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