Skin Contraindications & Massage
Question:
I would like to know what skin diseases can stop or restrict you from giving a massage? I've heard another massage therapist that I work with referring to something called skin contraindications. Do you have more information about this skin condition?
Thank you,
Hal
Answer:
In medicine, the word contraindication (or CI) refers to any condition or factor that might increase the risk involved in using a particular drug, medical procedure or therapy such as massage therapy.
The contraindications that will arise in massage therapy will almost always be skin-related. Any CI's could restrict performing massage therapy altogether. These skin conditions typically include acne or other inflammatory contagious skin conditions such as:
- Irritable skin conditions
- Local contagious skin conditions
- Open wounds and sore decubitus ulcers
- Radiation sites (physician consent is needed post-radiation therapy)
- Recent burns
- Sepsis
- Contusions
- Pitted edemas
- 24 to 48-hours after any type of anti-inflammatory treatment
- Varicose veins and phlebitis
- Frostbite
As you can see, skin contraindications are specialized issues. They vary with every patient and they can render massage therapy treatment not possible or inadvisable. A skin contraindication can be a result of a skin condition, a recent skin trauma, or they can be the result of another medical treatment. Whatever the skin contraindication, if massage therapy is performed it could result in harm to the patient's health or well being. Bottom line, if you suspect that a patient may have a skin contraindication, insist they see their doctor for signed approval before you administer massage therapy.
Most CI's are local, which means that the massage therapist must directly avoid the site of concern. Therefore, massaging other parts of the body is still safe.
If the massage therapist still has concerns about treating a client because of a skin conditions, open wounds or even cuts on the therapist's hands, the therapist is required to wear disposable vinyl or latex gloves. Vinyl gloves are probably the safest as many people have an allergy to latex.
I hope that I have adequately answers your question.
Thanks for the great question!
Karin
